The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated 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 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
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 problem that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," 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 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 filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization works to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable others will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
