Sounding the alarm on racial discrimination cut short my career - Luther Burrell

Important note: This piece includes descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries underway.

"That was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

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 myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."

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

"The organization has placed considerable attention on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on building inclusive environments, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful behaviour.

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

"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 father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died earlier this year.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains 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 free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

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

"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their personal stories as well.

"I grab the bull by the horns and continue carrying this flag and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."