Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination ended my career - Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.

"I wanted to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were investigations underway.

"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."

"The organization has given considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person education on building welcoming environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.

His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."