The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on my rugby career'
Important note: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news emerged that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"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.
"During 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 incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"We has given considerable attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person training on building welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You be so proud 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 finished your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game 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 need to take the bull by the horns and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this responsibility and do what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to previous team Northampton in November 2022
