The former player: 'I hoped to continue playing'
Important note: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union led his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he told reporters.
"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.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just accept the outcome and understand that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in 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.
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 journalists he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other 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 disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains 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 wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has placed significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has in-person education on building welcoming environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate 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 succeed on and off the pitch with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in November 2022
