Sounding the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive language and conduct

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

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

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

"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations going on.

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

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

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

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

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

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

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

"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

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

All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from damaging conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

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

Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.

His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent 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 need to take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this flag and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."