Former England rugby international Luther Burrell’s career has been marked by powerful highs on the pitch and, more recently, by a courageous battle against racism within the sport he loves. Burrell, now 37, has spoken out about the discrimination he endured during his professional rugby journey, revealing that his decision to expose the issue effectively ended his playing days. The consequences of his whistleblowing have rippled through the rugby world, prompting soul-searching and reforms—but also leaving Burrell without a professional contract since his revelations became public.
Back in June 2022, Burrell, then 34 and out of contract, made headlines with an interview in The Mail on Sunday, where he described racism as being “rife” in rugby. He backed up his claims with WhatsApp messages and detailed recollections of so-called “jokes” during training sessions, particularly from his time at Newcastle Falcons. Among the most shocking incidents, a teammate referred to him as a “slave” and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles “where your shackles were.” For Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent and grew up on a council estate in Huddersfield, this was the tipping point that compelled him to speak out.
“I have absolutely had to retire because of what went on,” Burrell told BBC Sport. “I wanted to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word came out that there were investigations going on. That was difficult – I had to just accept the fate and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me.” His only professional rugby since has been three appearances with the invitational Barbarians side, including a memorable try on his return to Northampton in November 2022.
Burrell’s rugby pedigree is impressive. He started his career at Leeds Carnegie, had a spell with Sale Sharks, and spent seven successful years at Northampton Saints, where he won the Premiership and the European Challenge Cup at the end of the 2013-14 season. He then moved to Newcastle Falcons (now rebranded as Newcastle Red Bulls) in September 2020, after a brief stint in rugby league with Warrington Wolves. Internationally, Burrell earned 15 caps for England between 2014 and 2016, scoring four tries, three of which came during the 2014 Six Nations. Yet, despite his achievements, his career was derailed not by injuries or age, but by the fallout from exposing systemic racism.
The reaction to Burrell’s revelations was swift and, in some corners, deeply uncomfortable. In April 2023, a Rugby Football Union (RFU) report concluded that his allegations were true “on the balance of probability,” though it admitted there was insufficient evidence to definitively confirm that the incidents occurred at Newcastle. The investigation unearthed a WhatsApp group post containing a “wholly inappropriate racist term” and confirmed that Burrell had been subjected to comments about slavery, bananas, and fried chicken—evidence of what he called “racial banter” that had become normalized within rugby dressing rooms.
Burrell didn’t just describe his experiences at club level. He also recounted facing prejudice within the England setup, saying, “I’ve had several traumatic experiences within England camp. Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that’s really unacceptable.” He continued, “[Racism] is something that has been dressed up as banter and that’s been the problem that I’ve personally suffered and seen. Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it’s the norm and that is fine and that it’s not malicious, but that’s nonsense.”
Despite the investigation’s findings, the RFU chose not to take disciplinary action, noting instead that Burrell’s aim was to drive change within rugby rather than target individuals for punishment. The governing body acknowledged, “The RFU has placed significant focus on inclusion and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his experiences of racism and classism. We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the professional game to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an ongoing process.”
Concrete steps have since been taken: every Premiership and Premier 15s (PWR) club in England now conducts face-to-face education on building inclusive cultures, monitored through individual reports and surveys. All England players, including age-grade squads, receive training to become “active bystanders,” empowering them to intervene and protect others from harmful behavior. These initiatives, while promising, represent ongoing efforts rather than completed reforms.
The personal cost to Burrell, however, has been immense. He has not played for a professional club since his revelations, despite actively seeking opportunities. “Clubs were put off hiring me after I went public to reveal racist abuse I suffered,” Burrell reflected, echoing a sentiment reported widely in the rugby community. The story of his struggle and resilience was chronicled in the BBC iPlayer documentary ‘Luther Burrell – Rugby, Racism and Redemption.’ In a moving moment from the film, his mother Joyce told him, “You should be so proud of what you have done. I know it has had this effect on you and finished your career, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son.” Tragically, Burrell’s father Geoff died shortly after the documentary was filmed, and his sister passed away earlier in 2025, compounding a period of profound personal loss.
Undeterred, Burrell has channeled his energy into making rugby more accessible and inclusive for future generations. Through his 12 Foundation, he provides free sports coaching, mentoring, and nutrition education to children in under-served communities. “My intentions are pure, I want to see the evolution of the game and if nobody else is prepared to share their story then I’ll continue to fight that fight because I’m not just doing this for myself,” he said. “We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it hopefully the more comfortable others will feel about sharing their own stories as well. I need to grab the bull by the horns and keep carrying this flag and keep carrying this weight and do what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more inclusive. There’s a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of poverty and I honestly believe that rugby has the ability to transform their lives, just as it did for me.”
As rugby grapples with its own reckoning, Burrell’s story stands as both a stark warning and a source of hope. His willingness to confront uncomfortable truths has sparked real change, even as it cost him his career. While the RFU’s reforms are still a work in progress, Burrell’s flag remains firmly planted—showing that the fight for inclusivity and respect in rugby is far from over.
