The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union brought his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he told media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also faced prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
