The former player: 'I really hoped to carry on my rugby career'
Warning: This article contains descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racism in rugby union brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.
"I hoped to continue competing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather sufficient evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell started all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.
"I've had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream 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 culture within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed significant attention on diversity and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with teams and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face education on creating welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.
"We know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, 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 dad Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, mentoring and nutrition education.
"My intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to share their story then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about discussing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the horns and keep bearing this banner and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe 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
