The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Important note: This article includes descriptions of racially offensive language and conduct
FormerEngland player Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and out of contract, 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 happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were inquiries going on.
"This situation was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not collect 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 tournament
Burrell revealed to media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a period of time you just learn to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" 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 "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable attention on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but recognize this takes time and is an ongoing process."
All Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so proud 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 impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the filming of the documentary, and his sibling died recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed both on the field with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll persist to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he said.
"We have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue carrying this flag and continue carrying this responsibility and accomplish what I can to create possibilities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
