Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination ended my career - Burrell

Important note: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.

"I really hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

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

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"During a period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was finally spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has given considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

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

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

All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.

"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this impact on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.

His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.

"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.

"I take the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."