Prince William and Kevin Sinfield lead tributes to ‘inspiration’ Rob Burrow following rugby league star’s death aged 41
PRINCE William and Kevin Sinfield have led the touching tributes for the Rugby League star Rob Burrow following his death aged 41.
Former teammate Sinfield – who carried Burrow over the Leeds Marathon finish line last year – hailed his friend as a “beacon of hope and inspiration”.
Fan favourite Burrow passed away on Sunday after a brave battle with motor neurone disease, Leeds Rhinos announced.
The star was described as having a “huge heart” by Wills who sent his condolences to the Burrow‘s family alongside Princess Kate.
Wills posted his tribute on X saying: “A legend of Rugby League, Rob Burrow had a huge heart.
“He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.’ Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy.”
Meanwhile, Burrow’s longtime friend Sinfield shared an emotional tribute, saying: “Today was the day that I hoped would never come.”
The ex-England coach and Leeds Rhinos great added: “You will continue to inspire me every single day.
“I have lost a dear friend and I will never forget the special times we shared both on and off the pitch.
“I would always say that you were pound for pound the toughest player I ever played alongside, however since your diagnosis, you were the toughest and bravest man I have ever met.
“The last 4 and a half years you showed the world what living and loving looked like and this was always done with the biggest smile on your face.
“I will miss you my little mate.”
Burrow and Sinfield met as young boys – and became inseparable as they played for Leeds Rhinos for 15 years together.
Sinfield stayed at Burrow’s side after his diagnosis – and poignantly carried him across the finish line at the end of the Leeds Marathon in 2023.
Burrow said at the time: “The Marathon was one of the most important and special events I’ve done and meant so many things to so many people.
“But for me, it was about friendship and crossing the finish line with my mate Kev will live with me forever and it created a platform to raise funds and awareness for MND charities, and I hope the next one is as memorable.”
Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-season rugby league career.
He passed away peacefully at Pinderfield’s Hospital near his home surrounded by his loving family after becoming ill earlier this week.
Heartbroken fans have laid down shirts and flowers in memory of the star outside Leeds Rhinos’ stadium.
The small but mighty rugby icon played his entire career with Leeds Rhinos and won every honour with the club as part of their golden generation.
He won eight Super League titles in an illustrious playing career while also representing England and Great Britain internationally.
After being diagnosed with the illness, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community with the support of close friend and former Leeds team-mate Kevin Sinfield.
Symptoms of MND
Muscle weakness and stiff joints are common symptoms of motor neurone disease.
Other potential indicators of MND, which affects around 5,000 people in the UK, include a loss of muscle mass, or wasting, and movement and mobility problems.
Stiffness is also common, as are cramps, twitches and spasms.
And many people will experience speech and communication issues, breathlessness and changes in saliva.
MND is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones.
These cells gradually stop working over time, but it’s not known why this happens, the NHS says.
Internationally, Burrow – who was awarded a CBE in January 2023 – was capped 15 times by England and played five Tests for Great Britain.
But he was best known as part of the Leeds team that won the Super League in 2004.
It was a victory that ended the club’s 32-year wait for a title, while he was then named Man of the Match in Rhinos’ 2007 and 2011 victories.
Leeds’ statement released on Sunday evening read: “It is with deep sadness that the club can confirm that former player Rob Burrow CBE has passed away, aged 41.
“Rob inspired the entire country with his brave battle against Motor Neurone Disease (MND) since his diagnosis in December 2019. He passed away peacefully at Pinderfield’s Hospital near his home surrounded by his loving family after becoming ill earlier this week.
In total he made 492 appearances for Leeds Rhinos placing him in fifth in the club’s all-time list of career appearances.
He scored 196 tries for a total of 1,103 points.
Since his MND diagnosis, Burrow, along with Sinfield, has inspired nearly £20 million in fundraising across the UK and Ireland.
This includes raising over £6 million to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds.
Sinfield famously carried Rob over the finish line at the Leeds marathon, while raising money and awareness for the disease.
TRIBUTES FLOODING IN
The MND Association came out with a heartbreaking statement saying: “Our thoughts today are with Rob’s wife Lindsey, children Macy, Maya and Jackson, family and friends and the rugby community.
“Rob, who played at number 7 for Leeds Rhinos, lived with this brutal disease in the public eye after choosing to announce his diagnosis shortly before Christmas 2019.
“He used every opportunity to raise awareness of the disease, speaking publicly, undertaking media interviews and opening his life up in two moving BBC documentaries My Year With MND and Rob Burrow: Living With MND.”
The charity called the rugby star a “consistent and passionate advocate” in the touching statement.
Piers Morgan also made his feelings clear on how much respect Burrow deserves for his heroic life.
He wrote on X: “What incredibly sad news. A remarkable man who fought wretched Motor Neurone Disease with such courage, fortitude & determination.
“He raised so much money, and so much awareness, and helped so many other people. RIP Rob.”
Broadcaster Dan Walker also posted on X sending his love to the grieving family.
He said the rugby legend “taught us all so much” with his “continued determination and desire to make a difference for others”.
Top boxing promotor labelled Burrow a “real life hero”.
'Inspirational' Burrow
By GARY CARTER
AN INSPIRATION has left us with the sad passing of Rob Burrow following a brave battle against motor neurone disease (MND).
The Leeds Rhinos legend died at Pinderfields Hospital close to his West Yorkshire home yesterday afternoon (Sun) after falling ill earlier in the week.
But his legacy will live on with the way he spearheaded, along with pal and former team-mate Kevin Sinfield, bringing the condition to the nation’s attention since his diagnosis in December 2019.
And fittingly, the groundbreaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Leeds’ Seacroft Hospital will go ahead today (Mon) as planned at the 41-year-old’s request.
Sinfield will do his fifth physical challenge in December after raising millions of pounds for MND charities and awareness of the condition.
Now Leeds’ Headingley Stadium – where Burrow became a rugby league titan – will see an outpouring of tributes after the South Stand was opened to those who want to pay their respects.
His family said: “Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND.
“He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.
“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four-and-a-half years meant so much to Rob.
“In particular, the rugby league family and the MND community have rallied around to inspire him, thank you for your support.
“For those who knew Rob throughout his life, his determination and spirit in the face of MND over the last four-and-a-half years came as no surprise.
“He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.”
Burrow’s playing career was legendary – winning eight Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and three World Club Challenges.
In 492 appearances for his only club, he scored 196 tries in a total of 1,103 points. He was capped 15 times by England and played five more tests for Great Britain.
He also received the ‘ultimate honour’ – rugby league renaming the Grand Final’s player of the match prize after him.
He was the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice, in 2007 and 2011, when he became the first to win by a landslide, earning all 37 recorded votes.
But after his diagnosis, he became the face of the fight against MND, inspiring almost £20 million of fundraising and being awarded a CBE, along with Sinfield, who has raised about £10 million with his challenges.
“Kev was my captain and he still is my captain. He always will be,” said the icon, who leaves wife Lindsey and children Macy, Maya and Jackson, as they launched a book, With You Every Step.
“I wanted to do this book to highlight the importance of friendship and show there are many ways to be strong.
“I hope it gives my three young children an insight into what true friendship is.”
Leeds’ marathon is named after Burrow and the new centre will make sure his legacy lives on.
“This has all been about friendship and trying to help a mate,” said Sinfield about why he did seven marathons in seven days, a 101-mile continuous run, seven ultra marathons in seven days and seven marathons in seven days in seven cities.
“There are 100 reasons why we shouldn’t go again but there are 5,000 reasons why we should – the biggest is Rob.
“The awareness over the last four years has been brilliant, starting with the great Doddie Weir, but it’s the funds that will make such a difference, whether that’s to find a cure or help support families like Rob’s.”
The first Rob Burrow Award will be presented at the Super League Grand FInal on October 14 and he said: “I’m completely overwhelmed by the renaming.
“To be the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice was really special – to have the award named after me is the ultimate honour.”
The Rugby Football League said: “Rob was an outstanding rugby league player, for club and country.
“Since December 2019, his courage and humanity – allied to that of his family, friends and former Leeds Rhinos team-mates, led by Kevin Sinfield CBE – has transcended sport.”
