The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article contains details of discriminatory language and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
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.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to continue competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of 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 humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on creating welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should 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.
"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"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 feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
