The former player: 'I hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This article includes details of racially offensive language and conduct
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I really wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, 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 seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, 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 sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has placed considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal 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 teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via specific documentation and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away 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 game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary 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 fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this banner and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to previous team Northampton in late 2022
