The former player: 'I wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
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 problem that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just begin 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 referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"We has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared 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 culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and women's rugby club now has in-person education on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," 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 playing days, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the pitch with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I grab the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
