Kevin Sinfield joins William to pay tribute to ‘awesome friend’ Rob Burrow

Kevin Sinfield joined the Prince of Wales to pay tribute to ‘wonderful friend’ Rob Burrow following his death aged 41 after battling motor neurone disease.

Former Sinfield rugby player said the world had “lost a great man”, adding that his Leeds Rhinos team-mate had been a “beacon of hope and inspiration” since his diagnosis.

The MND Association said Burrow was a “passionate advocate” for people with the “brutal” disease, with William adding that the “rugby league legend” had a “huge heart”.

Burrow’s former team Leeds Rhinos said he “passed away peacefully” at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, near his home, surrounded by his family, after falling ill earlier this week.

In a message personally signed on X, William said: “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.”

In January, the prince surprised Burrow and Sinfield by making them CBEs during a visit to Headingley Stadium, paying tribute to their “phenomenal” efforts to raise funds for motor neurone disease.

Burrow led a £6.8m appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a state-of-the-art care center for people living with motor neurone disease.

Leeds Rhinos said on Monday that work to start building the new Rob Burrow Center for Motor Neurone Disease would “go ahead as planned at Rob’s request”, adding that it was a tribute to his “incredible work”.

Leeds Hospitals Charity said Burrow was “an inspiration, not only to the people of Yorkshire, but to the whole nation and the world”, adding that he spread joy with his “infectious smile and unwavering sense of humour”.

In a statement posted on X by Leeds Rhinos, Sinfield said: “Today was the day we hoped would never come.

“The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so many.

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

He continued in his tribute to Burrow: “I would always say that you were pound for pound the toughest player I ever played with, however since your diagnosis you have been the toughest and bravest man I have ever met. ever met

“I will miss you my little friend.”

Burrow spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles and represented Great Britain.

Emotional well-wishers turned out at the club’s Headingley Stadium on Sunday to pay their respects, leaving flowers, shirts and other tributes.

The chief executive of the MND Association said Burrow was “brilliant for the motor neurone disease community” and had lived with the condition with “dignity, kindness and tenacity”.

Tanya Curry, who has run the charity since January 2023, told the PA news agency: “We are so grateful for everything Rob and his family have done.

“He allowed his diagnosis to come into people’s homes so he could show the impact of this devastating and cruel disease he has lived with since late 2019 with such dignity, kindness and tenacity.

“Whenever you met Rob you couldn’t help but smile and have a great conversation with him and he will be missed by so many.”

Ms Curry said Burrow, a patron of the MND Association, was “immensely brave” to share her diagnosis and “allowed people to have hope”.