Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my career - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations going on.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.

"I have 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"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."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 accepted 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 suffered 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 fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body 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 professional game."

"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and feedback.

All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.

"You should be so pleased 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 effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.

His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.

"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this flag and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."