Heartbreaking moment Rob Burrow’s widow and children lay flowers at Headingley in memory of former Leeds Rhinos star after his death aged 41

By Dan Woodland

19:33 04 June 2024, updated 20:08 04 June 2024

This is the heartbreaking moment Rob Burrow’s widow and children lay flowers at Headingley in memory of the Rugby League star following his death.

Rob’s wife, Lindsey, and their three children, Macy, Maya and Jackson, joined well-wishers outside the Yorkshire stadium, which was home to his team, Leeds Rhinos, to lay flowers in memory of the beloved 41-year-old year old.

Lindsey couldn’t hold back tears as she and her children approached the huge collection of flowers, scarves and other tributes that have been left by fans since Rob’s death was announced on Sunday.

She was later seen comforting her children as she read some of the heartfelt messages in memory of the sporting hero who died following a long and important battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Lindsey released a statement on Monday, saying her family was “deeply saddened by the loss of our devoted husband and father” but remained “incredibly proud” of Rob and vowed to continue to preserve his “legacy alive”.

Rugby league coach Jamie Jones-Buchanan, a former team-mate of Burrow’s, attended Headingley on Monday morning to view the floral tributes, where he recalled the first time he met Rob.

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He told the PA news agency: “I was working on a sports exhibition (at the Royal Armouries) and he came with a school.

“I explained to him what he was supposed to do and he didn’t pay attention – which was just to knock some balls back, and he smashed them all over the place and I spent the whole afternoon picking them up.

“I thought this Rob Burrow was a bit so-and-so and that was the character that Rob was.

“Throughout his career he was the center of the dressing room, he was where the fun came from and a lot of the laughs.”

Mr Jones-Buchanan said Burrow was a “modest lad with a superhero origin story” and “brought a gift to the club”.

He added: “A gift that most people thought was a weakness because he was small, but he used that weakness to be a superhero, that was his strength.

“He was world class, so fast, strong, powerful, elusive, brave, brave on so many occasions on the rugby league field and inspired so many people, they loved him.”

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

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Ian Harvey, from Guiseley in West Yorkshire, who was among the fans who left flowers at Headingley on Monday, said he thought it was “very important” to visit the stadium to pay his respects to the former player.

He said: “I had to come down today. I used to work here on the backroom staff so I’ve seen Rob come through the academy system.

“You knew even then that he would make it.” For his size, don’t mind him.

I thought it was very important to come down today.

Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan told the PA that Burrow’s spirit “represented” the city.

He said: “Rob really represented Leeds, the spirit he showed, his compassion, his kindness and his will to win.

“That combination of humanity that he had, not just in Rob, but in his family … they’re all such genuine, nice people.

“We’ve just brought some flowers and a message from myself, the leader and the mayor to offer our condolences and acknowledge the role Rob played, which was massive in the city.”

Two years after his retirement in 2017, Burrow revealed his MND diagnosis and began fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of the disease and improve care and research.

He led a £6.8m charity appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a purpose-built care center for those with MND living in and around the city.

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His best friend Kevin Sinfield, who played with Rob during his time at Leeds Rhinos, has worked with his former team-mate since 2019 to raise awareness of MND and has raised over £15m for charity in that time.

Rob’s death at the weekend sparked an outpouring of grief, with Kevin and the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales joining the flood of tributes to his larger-than-life character.

Kevin 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.

“My love and thoughts go out to your beautiful family, Lindsey, Macy, Maya and Jackson, to your loving parents Geoff and Irene, sisters Joanne and Claire and your family and friends.

“You will continue to inspire me every day. I have lost a dear friend and I will never forget the special moments we shared both on and off the field. 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.

“For the last 4 1/2 years you have shown the world what it looks like to live and love and it has always been done with the biggest smile on your face.

“I will miss you my little friend. All my love, Kev.

Prince William and Princess Kate’s official X account previously posted an emotional message and offered their condolences to the brave legend’s family.

The post read: “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. It was signed with a W for William.

The MND Association, a charity for which Rob and Kevin raised millions of pounds following his diagnosis, paid tribute.

A statement said: “By doing so much, he inspired support from so many. During the Challenge Cup Final weekend in October 2020, fans and supporters donated an incredible £70,000 to the MND Association.

“Just two months later, Rob’s former captain, Kevin Sinfield CBE, took on the first of four incredible challenges, raising over £7 million for MND charities, including the MND Association.

“Rob and Kev’s friendship made headlines around the world. Thousands of well-wishers, not just in the heartland of rugby, but across the country donated, took on fundraising challenges and pledged their support in tribute to Rob’s bravery.

“Rob’s contribution to rugby league and awareness of MND was recognized in the 2021 New Year’s Honors List when he was made a CBE and in the same year Rob accepted the role of Patron of the MND Association. Rob was subsequently awarded a CBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honors list.

“It’s a testament to the strength of people’s feelings 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.

Incredibly and poignantly, work to build a new £6 million Rob Burrow Center for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds began on Monday, less than 24 hours after his death.

Construction is expected to take around a year and the charity remains focused on raising the final £1m of their target.

Paul Watkins, director of fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity, said: “The family still want to move on. That just shows how generous and gracious they are.

“They always thought of others.”

He added: “We have raised £5.85m of the £6.8m center and we will keep going until we get there.

“We are devastated by today’s news. Rob’s work has transcended the Rugby League community. At a time when he was most vulnerable, he put himself there.

“Few people in the UK now don’t know what MND is and a lot of that is down to Rob.

“I was lucky enough to be in the room with him many times and lucky enough to catch that twinkle in his eye or smile. His smile would light up any room.

“He was a joy to be around.”