‘Simply the best’: Rob Burrow’s wife shares touching tribute to rugby player after his death | UK news

The former Leeds Rhinos player’s death was announced on Sunday following his four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone disease.

Rob Burrow’s wife has paid tribute to her rugby husband, who died last week aged 41 after a battle with motor neurone disease (MND).

In an emotional tribute, his wife Lindsey spoke first Leeds Rhinos player it was “simply the best”.

It came as Burrow’s final message before he died emerged: “Whatever your personal struggle is, be brave and face it. Every day is precious. Don’t waste a moment.”

Burrow, who began fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of MND after his diagnosis, added: “I hope one day we will find a cure and live in a world without MND.”

The message was played as part of the BBC documentary There’s Only One Rob Burrow.

His wife said: “Although I knew this day would come, I am somehow still at a loss for words that our loving, kind and caring husband and father is gone,” she said in a statement.

“I was incredibly proud and lucky to call Rob my husband.

“I am incredibly proud of the campaign he has done to raise awareness and the millions of pounds that have been raised in his name for MND charities.

“I would like to thank the Rugby League community and everyone for the outpouring of love and support since Rob’s diagnosis. I really appreciate every message of support and fundraising that has been done,” she added.

“My priority is to make Rob proud and raise our three children as Rob would want and ensure their happiness and well-being.

“We will continue to keep Rob’s legacy alive. We will continue to “beat the drum” and do our best to try to help others.

“We take solace in how much people’s love and continued support has meant Rob through his most vulnerable times.

“He was simply the best.”

In the meantime, a ceremony to mark the ground breaking of the Rob Burrow Center for MND It went ahead as planned at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds on Monday at Burrow’s request, with his family saying he would “look down and smile”.

The ceremony was attended by Burrow’s close friend and former teammate Kevin Sinfield, along with Burrow’s parents Geoff and Irene Burrow and his sisters Joanne Hartshorn and Claire Burnett.

The family said Burrow wished they were there as construction work began on the purpose-built, state-of-the-art care centre.

Ms Burrow told reporters: “I said this is what Rob would want and I think he would be proud that we all pulled together and had the strength to come, and we’re doing it for Lindsey and for the kids.

“He’ll look down on us and say ‘thumbs up.’ We’re so proud to be here and it’s amazing what you can achieve.”

Mr Burrow said: “It’s amazing what a little man can achieve. You can achieve great things.

“As Rob says, in a world full of adversity you have to dare to dream.

Burrow’s legacy in rugby league will be the focus of Saturday’s final day of the Challenge Cup at Wembley, with a number of tributes lined up in his honour.

A minute’s silence will be held before both the men’s and women’s finals, while a minute’s applause will also take place in the seventh minute of each match – Burrow donned the number seven shirt for Leeds – as well as in the 1895 Schools and Cup finals.

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

In 2019 – two years after his retirement – ​​Burrow revealed his MND diagnosis and began fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of the disease and improve care and research.

Before his death, Burrow led a £6.8m charity appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a center for those with the disease living in and around the city.

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Since Burrow’s death was announced on Sunday night, the appeal has received around 1,000 donations.

He was also made an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honors list for his services to rugby league and the MND community, and was promoted to a CBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours.