Rugby League Icon And MND Campaigner Rob Burrow Dies At 41
A member of the public views the flowers, messages and other tributes left at Headingley Stadium in Leeds, following the death of former Leeds Rhino player Rob Burrow who had Motor Neurone Disease. Picture date: Monday June 3, 2024. 76403564 (Press Association via AP Images)
Rugby league star and motor neuron disease (MND) campaigner Rob Burrow passed away at 41 on Sunday, nearly five years after his MND diagnosis.
Burrow will be remembered as a skilled and tenacious rugby player with a record that will place him among the sport’s greats, winning every domestic honour available during his career.
With over 492 games played for Leeds Rhinos, Burrow won eight Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges, and two Challenge Cups, representing England and Great Britain 20 times. Burrow’s career highlights include a remarkable solo try in the 2011 Grand Final and a victorious farewell match in 2017 alongside his long-time friend Danny McGuire.
Burrow’s legacy, however, will also be marked by the positive demeanour and relentless activism he took on following his MND diagnosis in December 2019. His story, shared through several BBC documentaries, highlighted the challenges of MND and the unwavering support of his family, especially his wife Lindsey Burrow, who became his primary carer.
Burrow’s determination to raise awareness and funds for MND led to significant campaigns and initiatives, including the planned Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds. Multiple sports personalities joined in Burrow’s campaigning, raising money for treatment research and awareness of the condition.
The Prince of Wales, who honoured Burrow with a CBE earlier this year, wrote on X that Burrow was a “legend of Rugby League” with a “huge heart.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also praised Burrow as an “inspiration to everyone who met him or heard his incredible story” while the MND Association hailed him as a “consistent and passionate advocate for people with MND.”
Fans and public well-wishers paid their respects to Burrow, leaving tributes at Headingley Stadium.
