The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Important note: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing digital communications and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but stated it could not collect enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the problem that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has placed significant focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this impact 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 son."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will become about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue carrying this banner and keep supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
