Blowing the alarm on racism cut short my career - Burrell

Warning: This article contains details of discriminatory language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an early end.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.

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

"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.

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

A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.

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

"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.

"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over 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 nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen 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 elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has given considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."

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

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

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

"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport 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, guidance and dietary education.

"My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll continue 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 great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.

"I take the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to transform their futures, just as it did for me."