Blowing the whistle on racial discrimination terminated my career - Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour

FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature end.

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

At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to media outlets.

"I really wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations going on.

"That was challenging - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."

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

Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.

"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.

"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

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

"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 says he was eventually spurred to go public after a fellow player 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 elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"We has given considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.

"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.

All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.

"You 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 impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

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

Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more open.

His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in under-served communities and help them thrive on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.

"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.

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

"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."