The former player: 'I hoped to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out 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 game, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling 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've have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have 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"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."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 dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just begin to think 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 go public 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 "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating welcoming environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about discussing their personal experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in late 2022
