The former player: 'I wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article contains details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in rugby union led his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I really wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but stated it could not collect sufficient proof to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was controversially overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also faced prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"We has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."
All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming environments, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this impact on you and finished your playing days, but in our view, 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 production of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization works to connect with children in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
