The former player: 'I really wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and recalling 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 guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person education on creating welcoming environments, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from damaging 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 effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
