Rugby League hero dies at just 41
Rugby League legend Rob Burrow has passed away at the age of 41 after a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease.
The British footballer spent his career with the Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles, and while he never played in Australia, he won the World Club Challenge over NRL opponents three times.
Just two years after his retirement in 2017, Burrows was diagnosed with MND.
Despite his rapidly progressing condition, Burrows stayed in the public eye to raise money and awareness for MND, and soon became the face of the fight against the disease in the UK.
He worked with former teammate Kevin Sinfield to raise millions for a new care centre for MND patients, as the pair competed in marathons today, with Sinfield often pushing Burrow the entire way.
His former football club announced Burrow’s death on Sunday, just one day before the groundbreaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital, which will go ahead at his request.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend,” the club 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."
“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. Rob never accepted that he couldn’t do something. He just found his way of doing it better than anyone else."
“He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity. We must dare to dream.”
Prince William, who awarded Burrow with a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honour in January 2024, was among those to mourn his death on social media.
“A legend of rugby league, Rob Burrow had a huge heart,” he wrote.
“He taught us ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream’. Catherine and I send our love."
Burrow is survived by wife Lindsey and their three children Macy, Maya and Jackson.
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