By Sam Peters Luther Burrell is no one’s idea of a soft touch. Weighing 17st and with the physical attributes of a world-class athlete, the Huddersfield-born son of a chemical processor is a tough man earning a hard living in a sometimes brutal sport. But Burrell, just like every professional sportsman, is also a human being. Last season, at the end of a breakthrough Six Nations which saw the 26-year-old centre lay down a significant marker for next year’s World Cup, the physical and emotional demands of an eight-week campaign away from his family caught up with him. Roar: Luther Burrell was driven to tears and broke down after physical and emotional demands last year
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Luther Burrell opens up to Sportsmail about his tough time after Six Nations
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‘I was a bit embarrassed because I’d never done that [broken down] before,' says Burrell, who admits opening up 'lifted a huge weight off my shoulders'
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Burrell's joy at being handed a first England cap had been tempered by learning his mum, Joyce, was given the all-clear after a major cancer scare
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'It was a huge time for my family. They were obviously overjoyed when they heard I’d been picked and there were plenty of tears,' admits Burrell
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Burrell: ‘Mum and dad hadn’t really kept me in the loop because they didn’t want me to worry. It was a huge time for our family'
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England centre has taken up saxophone to relax and help his 'inspiration'
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