Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my professional journey - Burrell

Warning: This piece contains details of discriminatory language and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries going on.

"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," 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 malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"The organization has given considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"The organization are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.

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

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

"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, 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 father Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.

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

His charitable organization aims to connect with children in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this banner and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."