The former player: 'I hoped to continue playing'
Important note: This piece includes descriptions of racially offensive language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his professional journey to an premature conclusion.
In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to continue playing, naturally I did. I pursued that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "likely correct", but stated it could not gather enough evidence to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014 and 2015, but was controversially excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Certain instances of discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become normalised in team environments, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"During a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."
Burrell explains he was finally motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle referred to him as a "enslaved person" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."
The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his encounters of racism and classism," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with clubs and partners in the professional game to strive for a culture of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."
All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building inclusive environments, with its effectiveness tracked via individual reports and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful behaviour.
"You be so pleased 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 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 documentary, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in disadvantaged communities and support them thrive on and off the pitch with free sports training, mentoring and dietary education.
"My motivations are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the game and if others is willing to share their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will feel about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I grab the challenge by the horns and keep carrying this banner and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that the sport has the potential to change their futures, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
