Newcastle Falcons have launched an internal investigation to determine if any of the racism that Luther Burrell experienced happened while at the club.
Burrell, 32, who last week left Newcastle after two seasons, said racist “banter” has become “normalised” among team-mates.
Another former club Northampton said they had been “reassured” he did not experience such abuse with them.
Centre Burrell, capped 15 times by England, said he has been on the receiv- ing end of comments about slavery and bananas and he wanted to “empower younger generations” by speaking out.
He says he will “never name names but it's gone on for too long”.
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney said the governing body was “disturbed” and “apologised” for Burrell's experiences.
