The former player: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Important note: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and conduct
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racism in rugby union led his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages 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 guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what went on," he told reporters.
"I wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to media he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had several 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"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."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.
"This is something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was finally motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has placed significant focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a great deal of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but recognize this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its success tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," 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 ended your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to tell their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own stories as well.
"I grab the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
