The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This piece includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that going public to reveal racism in rugby union brought his career to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what occurred," he explained to reporters.
"I wanted to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was difficult - I had to simply accept the outcome and understand that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially overlooked for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told media he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a period of time 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 says he was finally 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 your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable focus on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are ongoing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to step in and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told 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 view, you have achieved so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the film, and his sister died recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them thrive on and off the pitch with complimentary sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability 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
