The former player: 'I hoped to carry on playing'
Important note: This piece contains descriptions of racially offensive comments and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell claims that going public to reveal racial discrimination in rugby union brought his professional journey to an early end.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "rife" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering 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 three appearances with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what happened," he explained to media outlets.
"I really wanted to carry on competing, naturally I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when word emerged that there were inquiries underway.
"That was difficult - I had to simply come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole situation is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization report in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said 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 overlooked for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told 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've had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"It's something that has been dressed up as humour and that's been the problem that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public 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 your shackles were."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the elite game and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."
"The organization has placed considerable attention on diversity and diversity in the sport and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and after Luther Burrell came forward and revealed his experiences of racism and classism," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."
Every Premiership and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on creating welcoming cultures, with its effectiveness monitored via individual reports and feedback.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "engaged observers" to step in and protect others from damaging conduct.
"You be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sibling died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, continues his work to make the sport more accessible.
His charitable organization aims to reach children in disadvantaged communities and support them succeed on and off the field with free sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal intentions are genuine, I want to see the evolution of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to share their story then I'll continue to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for my own benefit," he said.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as excellent as it can be and the longer I speak about it hopefully the more comfortable others will become about sharing their personal stories as well.
"I need to take the challenge by the opportunity and continue bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop opportunities and make the game more attractive and more welcoming.
"There's a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in late 2022
