The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Warning: This article includes details of racially offensive comments and behaviour
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and recalling training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what occurred," he told reporters.
"I really hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were inquiries going on.
"That was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but said it could not gather enough proof 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 team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him win 15 appearances after his debut in February 2014.
"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
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 myself experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a extended period you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player 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 "increased scrutiny at the culture within the elite game and to the introduction of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
All Prem and PWR club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to intervene 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.
"I know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so much. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff passed away soon after the production of the documentary, and his sibling passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in his hometown, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His 12 Foundation aims to connect with children in under-served communities and support them succeed on and off the field with complimentary sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more comfortable others will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and continue carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that rugby has the potential to transform their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
