Falcons facing inquiry as RFU vows to tackle racism head-on
RUGBY chiefs will launch an official investigation into Newcastle Falcons this week after Luther Burrell’s explosive claims of racism. An independent review set up by Twickenham bosses will probe England centre Burrell’s damning recollection of ‘banter’ involving bananas, fried chicken, slavery and casual use of the N-word.
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has held two meetings with Burrell, 32, whose feedback will be incorporated into a broader, second inquiry to measure how rife the problem is within the sport.
Although he does not believe rugby is riddled with racist behaviour, England prop Ellis Genge – who had an outstanding tour in the 2-1 win over Australia – said professional players found guilty of using unacceptable language should be named and shamed.
And Sweeney promised the RFU was determined to “get our arms round” the issue before rugby is exposed to a cricket-style meltdown where one player,azeem Rafiq (below), trashed Yorkshire’s reputation with damaging testimony about dressing room culture.
Revealing the probe into Newcastle, he said: “It will be an RFU inquiry with an independent chair. It will be going on imminently, starting this week.
“It is very important and good for Luther to speak up. He came down here, we met him along with PRL (Premiership
Rugby) and the RPA (Rugby
Players Association) and I met him in Yorkshire last week again.
“He has been very open, very transparent. He’s explaining and telling us his feelings and his views in terms of what has happened.
“In terms of two tangible things coming out of that, we’ve reached an agreement with Newcastle in terms of what we have to do in there and to hold an appropriate independent review of what has happened there.
“That is the first stage and then, secondly, we are setting up a process jointly with the RPA and with PRL to go out to the broader professional game and create the right environment for people to be able to feed back their views. I think it is important to go through that because, until you do, you don’t get your arms around the extent of the issue.
“Ellis spoke before the Australia match and he said that, in his perception, he didn’t feel that racism is rife – but how do you define that?
“And what is the extent of the issue we need to address? Is it ignorant banter that may have been acceptable years ago but no longer is?
“Does that lead you down an education route in terms of what is acceptable in this day and age and what isn’t? So we are in that stage now, and Luther is involved in that second phase as well, so he will be part of that process.”
The Yorkshire cricket scandal prompted other sports to shine a torch into unexplored corners.
And Sweeney said: “We had a different mechanism in place to deal with that.
“The reaction to Luther’s comments was instantaneous in terms of how we work with Luther and others to find solutions.”
Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent, joined Newcastle in 2020 after seven years with Northampton Saints and a brief switch of codes to Warringtonwolves in the Super League.
He has won 15
England caps.