The former player: 'I really wanted to carry on playing'
Important note: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and conduct
FormerEngland centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racism in professional rugby brought his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been subject to while representing Newcastle.
At that time 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 definitely had to end my career because of what happened," he told reporters.
"I wanted to continue playing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations underway.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and accept that this whole situation is a lot bigger than me."
A rugby governing body investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "likely correct", but said it could not collect enough proof to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
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've had several distressing experiences within England camp," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality 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 experienced and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"Over a extended period you just begin to think that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's revelations had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant attention on inclusion and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and PWR club now has in-person training on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful conduct.
"You be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"We know it has had this effect on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so impressed 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 earlier this year.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if others is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he said.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the game as great as it can be and the more I speak about it hopefully the more confident fellow players will become about discussing their personal stories as well.
"I need to grab the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this banner and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport 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 November 2022
