Rob Burrow dies: Kevin Sinfield pays tribute to friend and former Leeds team-mate

Updated 8 minutes ago

Kevin Sinfield has paid tribute to Rob Burrow, describing his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate, who has died aged 41, as “a beacon of hope and inspiration”.

As friends and former team-mates at Leeds, Sinfield and Burrow raised millions together for charity to raise awareness and fund research into MND.

“Today was the day we hoped would never come,” Sinfield said. “The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so many.”

Burrow and Sinfield were both made CBEs in the New Year Honors 2024. The pair have helped raise more than £15 million for MND charities since Burrow’s diagnosis in 2019.

“You fought so bravely to the end and became a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only to the MND community, but to all who saw and heard your story,” Sinfield said.

He said Burrow would “continue to inspire me every day.”

Sinfield added: “I’d always say you were pound for pound the toughest player I’ve ever played with, but since your diagnosis, you’ve been the toughest and bravest man I’ve ever met.”

He ended his tribute by saying: “I’ll miss you my friend, all my love Kev x.”

Sinfield has raised millions for MND research alone by taking on a series of endurance challenges.

Last year he completed seven ultra-marathons over seven days in seven cities, including Dublin, Edinburgh and Birmingham, raising more than £825,000.

The close pair also launched the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, which was held for the second time last month.

Earlier this year, Burrow and Sinfield contributed to a picture book that told the story of a friendship between two boys named Rob and Kev.

In 2022, Burrow received the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, and Sinfield was also recognized with a special award.

Current Leeds second-row striker Cameron Smith, who played alongside Burrow before retiring in 2017, was among the supporters who paid tribute to his former team-mate.

“It’s a really emotional night. I think it’s amazing how many people have come to pay their respects,” the 25-year-old told Sky Sports.

“I was lucky enough to have a few games with him. He was my academy coach and he taught me a lot about the game and how to be a good teammate and a good guy.

“He was a truly outstanding player and left a tremendous legacy here.”

Burrow’s former team-mate Jamie Peacock wrote on Instagram: “Robbery in a sport where guts, courage and grit are characteristic of every player at their absolute peak, you were the bravest, bravest and grittest of all. .

“Becoming an inspiration to 1000’s and a pole star to the MND community, giving hope where there was none before. Never complain about your condition and situation. An inspiration to us all. RIP my friend.”

Former Scotland rugby international Doddie Weir campaigned alongside Burrow to raise funds for MND until his death in November 2022 aged 52, and his charity – the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – described Burrow as “a true inspiration”.

The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, set up by former Bradford City footballer Stephen Darby and his close friend Chris Rimmer, as well as former England football captain Steph Houghton, who is married to Darby, paid tribute on social media.

“Devastated doesn’t even come close! Words cannot describe our love for Rob,” Houghton wrote on X.

In March, Burrow attended the start of the ‘March of the Day’, a 178-mile march by ex-footballers in support of MND, led by ex-Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart and Darby, who both have the disease.