The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Important note: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 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 end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I really hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were investigations underway.
"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over 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 incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the production of the film, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to tell their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the bull by the opportunity and keep carrying this flag and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport 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 late 2022
