The former player: 'I hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations underway.
"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially overlooked for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."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 humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen 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 introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect 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 died shortly after the filming of the film, and his sibling passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this banner and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
