The former player: 'I hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This piece includes details of discriminatory language and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an premature conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I wanted to continue playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were investigations underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not gather enough proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced discrimination within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen 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 environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person education on creating 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 defend others from harmful conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our eyes, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is prepared to share their experience then I'll continue to fight that cause because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to take the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this weight and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly think that the sport 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
