The former player: 'I really hoped to continue playing'
Important note: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive language and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told reporters.
"I hoped to continue competing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were investigations going on.
"This situation was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not gather 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 team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time you just begin 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 finally spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "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 action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on creating welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about discussing their own stories as well.
"I take the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
