Blowing the whistle on racism ended my career - Luther Burrell

Warning: This piece includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering 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 went on," he explained to media outlets.

"I really hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations underway.

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

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.

"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."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 problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

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

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

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 strategy for the elite level."

"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from damaging conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.

His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to tell their experience then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal experiences as well.

"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that rugby has the potential to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."