The former player: 'I really wanted to continue my rugby career'
Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling 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 a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to retire because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I really hoped to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "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 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has given significant focus on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
All Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister 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 disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable others will become about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to grab the challenge by the horns and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
