Sounding the alarm on racism ended my professional journey - Luther Burrell

Important note: This article includes descriptions of discriminatory comments and behaviour

Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an early end.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.

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

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

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

"That was challenging - I had to simply accept the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.

"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.

"It's something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.

"Over a extended period you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."

Burrell explains he was finally motivated to go public after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

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

"We has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it added.

"We are continuing work with teams and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from damaging 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.

"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."

Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sibling died recently.

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

His charitable organization works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable fellow players will become about discussing their own stories as well.

"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and continue supporting this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.

"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."