Blowing the whistle on racism terminated my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.

"I have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.

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

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

A rugby governing body investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.

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

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

Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

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

"The organization has given significant focus on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.

"You 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.

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

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.

His charitable organization works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."