Leeds Rhinos honor Rob Burrow at first match since rugby star’s death | UK news

Tributes have been paid to Rob Burrow at his former club Leeds Rhinos, with fans joining more than 80 players in honoring the star.

burrow died at age 41 earlier this monthfour years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

He spent his entire rugby career with Leeds Rhinos and won eight Super League titles with the team.

Friday’s game against Leigh Leopards was Leeds Rhino’s first since Burrow’s death and as the teams emerged from the tunnel at Headingley, fans in the East Stand held up blue and yellow signs displaying their initials and shirt number.

Two huge banners were unfurled, one with the image of the rugby star and the second with his quote: “In a world full of adversity we must dare to dream.”

The game coincidentally took place on Global MND Awareness Day and the Leeds players wore a special blue and orange kit designed by Cath Muir, who was diagnosed with MND in 2014.

The shirt features Burrow with his team-mate and best friend Kevin Sinfield, and a portion of the profits from each sold will be donated to the Leeds Hospitals Charity Appeal. to build the Rob Burrow Center for MND.

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A video message from Sinfield, who is currently in Japan with the England rugby team, was one of several tributes played on the big screens inside the stadium.

Sinfield called Burrow his “little friend” and “the bravest, toughest man I’ve ever met”.

Burrow’s father Geoff addressed the crowd and said: “It’s a very emotional night, especially as Leeds v Leigh was the first game we brought Rob to. He enjoyed every minute of it.

“I wish I could have seen this crowd. He had a fabulous sense of humor. He was cheeky. He was a lovely boy and I will miss him so much.”

Australian player Danny Buderus flew to the UK especially for the match.

“You used to see a lot of opposition game plans were to try and run at Rob and it never worked,” he said. “He stood firm and put them on his back.

“It’s the fighting qualities that Rob has shown throughout his career. Rob was an inspiration to all those kids who might think they don’t have an athletic build or are too short.

“They are the same qualities he needed after he retired and the standard he maintained until the end.”