Rob Burrow death – updates: Tributes pour in as MND campaigner and Leeds rugby league legend dies aged 41

Journalist James O’Brien paid tribute to Burrows.

He said, “Ah, man. What life. And what a love he and Lindsey shared. Legend and legacy are overused words, but in Rob Burrow’s case, they’re barely adequate.

“Condolences also to Kevin Sinfield, who distilled the essence of friendship.”

Rob Burrow was an “incredible man” who deserves “love and respect” for bringing attention to MND, Alastair Campbell said.

The former Labor spinner said on X: “So sad.

“What an incredible man who deserves all the love and respect in the world for bringing attention to this horrible disease. Thoughts with his family and with Kevin Sinfield, who has shown friendship to the max.”

Prince William paid tribute to Burrows.

In a personally signed message on X, the Prince of Wales wrote: “A Rugby League legend, Rob Burrow had a huge heart.

“He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.’ Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy. w”

The Leeds Rhinos hung up his boots at the end of the 2017 season and was just starting to hit his stride as coach of the club’s academy side when news broke that he was suffering from an incurable illness.

Rob Burrow has been a “consistent and passionate advocate” for people with motor neurone disease, the MND Association said.

The 41-year-old former rugby player, who was a patron of the organisation, died four-and-a-half years after being diagnosed with his own motor neurone disease.

In a statement, the association said Burrow “lived with this brutal disease in the public eye after choosing to announce his diagnosis shortly before Christmas 2019. He used every opportunity to raise awareness of the disease , speaking publicly, doing media interviews and opening up about his life. in two moving BBC documentaries, My Year With MND and Rob Burrow: Living With MND.

“He remained a consistent and passionate advocate for people with MND – he became the first person to use a communication aid to read a bedtime story on CBeebies. And he joined the United To End MND coalition, which successfully campaigned for a £50 million government investment in targeted MND research.”

He added: “It’s a testament to the strength of feeling people have for Rob that the support on his behalf has never wavered.

“The MND Association is incredibly grateful to Rob and his family for helping to raise awareness of MND and funds for the Association by sharing the details of their journey and inspiring so many people in the MND community and the general public.”

Rishi Sunak said Burrow was “an inspiration to everyone” as he paid tribute to him.

He wrote of X: “Rob was an inspiration to all who knew him or heard his incredible story. I was honored to spend some time with him last year.

“He has led a fundraising campaign that supports vital new research that improves care for others – not least through the creation of The Rob.”

Sir Keir Starmer said Rob Burrow leaves behind an “incredible legacy” as he paid tribute to the former rugby player.

He wrote on X: “Extremely sad news.

“Rob leaves behind an incredible legacy in his work to raise awareness and support for those with motor neurone disease.

“My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

As well as his illustrious rugby league career, Burrow’s legacy will also be one of raising huge funds for the MND community with the help of his great friend and former team-mate, Sinfield.

Sinfield, who was the England rugby team’s defense coach, raised more than £8m for a number of MND causes after undertaking numerous running and endurance challenges in Burrow’s honour.

After retiring in 2017, Burrow announced his MND diagnosis in December 2019.

As his conditions worsened, Burrow continued to be a public face for those diagnosed with the condition as he advocated greater investment in treatment of the disease and care facilities for those who were diagnosed.

He was the focus of the award-winning BBC documentary Rob Burrow: Living with MNDwhich told the story of Burrow’s worsening condition as the former athlete continued to battle past his two-year life expectancy with MND in 2022, with the support of his wife and children Lindsey and his three children, Macy, Maya and Jackson.

Burrow made his professional debut for Leeds Rhinos in 2001 against Hull FC before enjoying a trophy-laden career with the Yorkshire club.

Despite his size at just 5ft 5in, the former scrum-half went on to be an integral part of the Rhinos side in the 2000s and 2010s, scoring 198 tries in 493 games during a 16-year spell at the club that seen become one of the most decorated players in Super League history.

After winning his first Super League championship in 2004, Burrow would go on to win the championship a further seven times in his career. He also won two Challenge Cups with Leeds in 2014 and 2015 and was twice awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy – for a man of the match performance in the Super League final – in 2007 and 2011.

In addition to his club career, Burrow also made 15 appearances for England, scoring 12 tries, and played in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals.

Burrow announced his retirement in 2017 and made his final appearance as a substitute in the 2017 Super League Grand Final as Leeds Rhinos won 24–6 against Castleford. He later became the sixteenth member of the Leeds Rhino’s Hall of Fame in 2020.