Rob Burrow: Former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Kevin Sinfield pays tribute to ‘wonderful friend’ | UK news

A former team-mate of Rob Burrow has paid tribute to a “wonderful friend” after the rugby league legend died more than four years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Kevin Sinfield played for Leeds Rhinos alongside Burrow and the pair went on to raise millions of pounds for charity after the former scrum-half was diagnosed with the disease in 2019.

An image of Sinfield carrying his former team-mate across the finish line of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in May 2023 is one that will live long in the memory.

In January, the Prince of Wales awarded Burrow and Sinfield CBEs in recognition of their “phenomenal” fundraising efforts for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Sinfield was too alongside Prince William in paying tribute to the rugby player turned activist who died on Sunday at the age of 41.

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 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. -I ever met.

“I will miss you my little friend.”

In a personally signed X message, the Prince of Wales said: “A Rugby League legend, Rob Burrow had a huge heart. He taught us, in a world full of adversities, we must dare to dream”.

Leeds Rhinos previously said in a statement that Burrow “passed away peacefully” at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, near his home, surrounded by his family, after falling ill earlier this week.

Burrow leaves behind his wife Lindsey and their three children Macy, Maya and Jackson.

Following his diagnosis, Burrow led a £6.8m appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a state-of-the-art center for people living with MND.

The rare, degenerative brain and nerve condition eventually took away Burrow’s voice and confined him to a wheelchair.

The Leeds Hospital Charity said the former rugby player 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”.

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Meanwhile, Sinfield has completed several fundraising challenges for MND organisations.

This includes raising £1.5m after completing seven ultramarathons in seven days, starting in Edinburgh and finishing at Manchester’s Old Trafford stadium, reaching the finish line during the Rugby League World Cup final.

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

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

The MND Association said Burrow was a “passionate advocate” for people with the “brutal” disease.

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

“He allowed his diagnosis to come into people’s homes so that he could show the impact of this devastating and cruel disease that 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.”

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.