Rob Burrow; the rugby league star

Rob Burrow; the rugby league star

Kevin Sinfield and Prince William led tributes to former England and Leeds Rhino rugby league player Rob Burrow who died at the age of 41 after a lengthy battle with a motor neurone disease.

Burrow had a stellar 17-year rugby league career that included winning eight Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups.

 

He spent his entire club career with Leeds and made more than 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017, also being capped by his country. In 2019, two years after retirement, he was diagnosed with MND.

 


Jamie Peacock, a former Leeds Rhinos teammate, told the Today programme about Rob Burrow's courage and legacy. "He was the bravest and most courageous of us all," Peacock said. "He has made a difference and he will never be forgotten, and that's the important thing we have to remember today."

 


In an emotional tribute to his friend, Sinfield described the news as "the day that I hoped would never come". In a statement, he said: "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."

Leeds' statement released on Sunday evening, which confirmed Burrow was surrounded by his family when he passed away, read: "It is with deep sadness that the club can confirm that former player Rob Burrow CBE has passed away, aged 41.

"Fittingly, as a tribute to the incredible work done by Rob, the ground-breaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital on Monday will go ahead as planned at Rob's request. At this time, we would ask that everyone respect the privacy of the Burrow family.



 

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