The Wigan v Warrington Challenge Cup Final will kick off at 3.07pm

Saturday’s Challenge Cup final between Wigan and Warrington will kick off at 3.07pm in honor of former Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow.

Burrow died on Sunday aged 41 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone disease, and Rugby League will pay tribute at Wembley to one of its all-time greats.

A minute’s silence will be observed before both the men’s and women’s Challenge Cup finals – the latter kicks off at Wembley at 11.45am – and there will also be a minute’s applause after seven minutes.

Rugby League said the game “celebrates the life of Rob Burrow CBE – the former Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain scrum-half who wore the no. 7 with such courage and distinction throughout his playing career”.

A statement said: “Following Burrow’s death aged 41 last Sunday, supporters will be able to pay their respects at the Rugby League Statue outside Wembley Stadium from 9.45am on Saturday morning, giving fans of all clubs the opportunity to show appreciation. and admiration for his courage and humanity, as so many Leeds followers have already done at AMT Headingley.

“There will be further chances to show that affection to the Wembley crowd invited to join in a minute’s applause after seven minutes of each of the four finals on the traditional rugby league occasion – starting with the inspiresport Champions Schools final in the morning, followed by of the second Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup final played at Wembley, which features Burrow’s beloved Leeds Rhinos taking on holders St Helens.”

Rugby union will also pay tribute to Burrow with a round of applause in the seventh minute of Saturday’s sold-out Premiership final between Northampton and Bath at Twickenham.

After Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019, he and former Leeds team-mate Kevin Sinfield raised millions of pounds to raise awareness of the disease in their bid to help find a cure.

The money raised funded the Rob Burrow Center for MND at Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, and Burrow’s family attended an emotional opening ceremony on Monday.

Burrow won eight Super League titles during his Rhinos career and following his retirement in 2017 and MND diagnosis two years later, came to the attention of a wider audience.

RL chief commercial officer Rhodri Jones added: “Once the shock and sadness of Sunday night’s news wore off, we recognized the responsibility to provide a fitting celebration of a rugby league superhero.

“Challenge Cup final day has a great tradition of bringing the rugby league family together – this year, for reasons no one would have chosen, we will be united in grief but also in paying a fitting tribute to a player who it transcended sports.”