The former player: 'I hoped to continue playing'
Important note: This article includes descriptions of discriminatory language and behaviour
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "rife" in the game, showing digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only elite playing since has been a handful of games with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news emerged that there were investigations going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this entire process is a lot more important than me."
A rugby governing body report in 2023 found Burrell's claims were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather sufficient evidence to categorically 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 team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within England camp," he said.
"Some discrimination and some just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's experience.
"This is something that has been dressed up as banter and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.
"During a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the standard and that is fine and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell says he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "enslaved person" and told him to put sunscreen 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 professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has given significant focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a substantial amount of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell came forward and shared his encounters of racism and classism," it added.
"The organization are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to work for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this takes time and is an continuous effort."
All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building inclusive cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and surveys.
All England athletes, including youth squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from damaging behaviour.
"You should be so pleased of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film 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 well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a family member."
Burrell's dad Geoff died soon after the production of the film, and his sister died earlier this year.
Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more open.
His charitable organization aims to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive on and off the field with complimentary sports training, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal intentions are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to tell their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more confident others will feel about sharing their own stories as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and keep bearing this flag and keep supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more appealing and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly think that rugby has the potential to change their futures, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
