The former player: 'I hoped to continue playing'
Important note: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, 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 occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather sufficient evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I have had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a extended period you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
All Prem and PWR club now has in-person education on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so much. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.
"I take the challenge by the opportunity and keep carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to create possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
