Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination cut short my career - Luther Burrell

Important note: This article contains details of racially offensive language and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering 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've have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.

"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.

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

"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"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 eventually motivated to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"We are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and surveys.

All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.

"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

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

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.

His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable others will feel about discussing their own stories as well.

"I grab the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."