Blowing the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Warning: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.

Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he told media outlets.

"I wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations underway.

"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.

"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.

"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable 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 referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."

"We has given considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are continuing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and feedback.

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

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

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.

His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.

"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.

"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it transformed things for me."