The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Important note: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for 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 happened," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."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 banter and that's been the problem that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated 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 your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," 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 playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to connect with young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to tell their story then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I take the challenge by the opportunity and continue bearing this banner and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
