The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive language and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has given considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization works to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying 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 poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
