Sounding the alarm on racism ended my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece includes details of racially offensive language and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

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

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

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

"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."

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

Burrell told media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.

"I've had several distressing experiences within the national team," 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"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."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 view.

"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"During 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 nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has given considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful conduct.

"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.

"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. 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 earlier this year.

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

His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My 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 advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable others will become about discussing their own stories as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this banner and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities 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 think that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."