Rob Burrow’s funeral plans have been confirmed with the public invited along the route

The funeral of rugby league legend and motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner Rob Burrow will take place on Sunday 7 July.

Former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow died earlier this month aged 41 after spending his last few years avidly raising awareness of the degenerative condition.

Along with former teammate Kevin Sinfield, Burrow has raised millions for research and to help others living with the disease after being diagnosed in 2019.

Leeds Rhinos and the Burrow family said the date was set to coincide with Rob Burrow Day, which is marked on July 7 in honor of his number 7 shirt.

The statement said Burrow’s funeral would take place at Pontefract Crematorium and it would be a private service “for invited guests only”.

However, members of the public are invited to line the route of Burrow’s final journey to pay their respects as the funeral procession makes its way to the crematorium.

Members of the public are asked to be in office from 1pm BST on the day.

The procession will travel along the A656 (Park Road), passing the Xscape leisure complex as it heads towards the M62 junction.

Cars will continue along the A639 towards Pontefract, past the racecourse, before turning onto Park Lane (B6134) near Pontefract Tanshelf station.

The procession will continue along Ackton Lane into Ackton before turning left onto Sewerbridge Lane and Common Side Lane (B6133) heading towards Featherstone.

At the War Horse sculpture, cars will turn left, slowing momentarily at the Featherstone Lions ARLFC ground on Wakefield Road (A645).

The procession will slow down again as it passes through Featherstone and close to where Burrow played junior rugby. Cars will then continue along Pontefract Lane towards the crematorium.

At that point, the audience is asked to “leave this part of the journey so that the Burrows can have a few moments to themselves before arriving at the crematorium”.

Rhinos said it published the route to give the public a chance “to pay their respects before allowing Rob’s family and friends to mourn their loss in private”.

The service will not be broadcast live.

Rhinos said Burrow’s family had “politely asked” members of the public not to send flowers, but said they could make a donation to the Rob Burrow Fund or the Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to build the Rob Burrow Center for MND.

Leeds City Council and the Mayor of Leeds will host a civic reception in Burrow’s honor on Friday 12 July at 11am, which will be broadcast live.