The former player: 'I wanted to continue playing'
Important note: This piece includes details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England centre Luther Burrell states that going public to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby brought his career to an early conclusion.
In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while playing for Newcastle.
Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to retire because of what went on," he explained to reporters.
"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it fell through when word came out that there were inquiries underway.
"That was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the outcome and accept that this whole process is a lot bigger than me."
A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's allegations were true "on the balance of probability", but stated it could not collect enough proof to categorically say they happened at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's Six Nations games in 2014-15, but was controversially excluded for their team for the 2015 tournament
Burrell told journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a international career that saw him earn 15 appearances after his first game in February 2014.
"I've had several traumatic experiences within the national team," he said.
"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really inappropriate."
Racism had become accepted in team environments, 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.
"During a period of time you just begin to believe 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 speak out after a team-mate at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and told him to put sun cream on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The rugby authority said Burrell's revelations had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."
"We has given significant attention on inclusion and inclusion in rugby union and a substantial amount of work completed both before and after Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.
"We are continuing work with clubs and partners in the elite level to strive for a culture of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an continuous effort."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on building welcoming environments, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England athletes, including age-grade squads, are educated in being "engaged observers" to intervene and protect others from harmful behaviour.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact on you and finished your career, but in our view, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's dad Geoff died shortly after the production of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.
His charitable organization works to reach children in under-served communities and support them succeed both on the field with free sports coaching, guidance and dietary education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the sport and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he explained.
"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the game as great as it can be and the longer I talk about it perhaps the more confident others will become about sharing their own experiences as well.
"I need to take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this flag and keep carrying this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the sport more attractive and more welcoming.
"There are a lot of underprivileged children and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a comeback to former club Northampton in late 2022
