The former player: 'I wanted to continue my rugby career'
Warning: This piece contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to continue competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out 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 chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so pleased 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 eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to connect with children in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is prepared 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 responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident others will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the opportunity and continue carrying this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that rugby has the ability to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
