The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and recalling 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 a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen 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 introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has given considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person education on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident others will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
