The former player: 'I hoped to continue my rugby career'
Important note: This article contains descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racism in rugby union brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the sport, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been subject to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I've have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word came out that there were inquiries underway.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply accept the fate and understand that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 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 played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014 and 2015, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 World Cup
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Certain instances of discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the problem 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 fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was finally spurred to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an action plan for the elite level."
"We has placed considerable focus on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it added.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Premiership and PWR club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its success monitored via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from damaging conduct.
"You should be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have done so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the film, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization works to connect with children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to tell their experience then I'll persist to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more confident others will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and continue carrying this weight and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to transform 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
