The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Warning: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to reporters.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word 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 situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started 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 international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had multiple distressing experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been disguised 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 acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has placed significant focus on diversity and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
All Premiership and PWR club now has in-person training on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We 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 family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I grab the bull by the opportunity and continue carrying this banner and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
