Inside Rob Burrow’s health battle with motor neurone disease as inspirational England rugby league star dies aged 41

INSPIRATIONAL England rugby league star Rob Burrow sadly passed away today after battling motor neurone disease.

The Leeds Rhinos legend was diagnosed with MND in 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-season league career.

Burrow pitchside with his wife Lindsey in 2021Rex

ReutersThe Prince of Wales at Leeds Rhinos in Headingly to meet Burrow and his pal Kevin Sinfield[/caption]

ReutersThe Prince of Wales met Rob Burrow and his family[/caption]

SWNSThe Rob Burrow Marathon in Leeds was named in his honour[/caption]

PAPal Kevin Sinfield carried Rob over the finish line of the Leeds marathon[/caption]

The Rugby League icon was one of the best in his primeRex

Burrow won eight Super League titles with Leeds but after being diagnosed with the illness, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community.

Leeds Rhinos sadly announced the death of their former talisman this evening, but the star left a lasting impact on the world on and off the pitch.

His diagnosis has helped raise £15m for charity including £8.5m by friend and former teammate Kevin Sinfield who raised £2m from seven marathons in as many days.

The millions raised not only won the adulation of the nation but also helped build a new care centre for MND.

An MBE was awarded to Burrow in the 2021 New Year Honours list for his services to rugby league and the Motor Neurone Disease community.

He would feature in an award-winning BBC documentary, ‘Rob Burrow – My Year with MND’, which provided a look behind the curtain of his battle and the impact on his wife Lindsey alongside his three children.

And in 2021, Burrow and fellow MND sufferer Stephen Darby were part of a group which went to Downing Street to urge the Prime Minister to inject more cash into finding a cure.

It was a bid that would eventually prove successful after the Government agreed to make £50million available for research.

But as time went on the former rugby player had to be cared for round-the-clock and ended up weighing only seven stone.

Brave Rob, who eventually became non-verbal, could only eat liquidised food spoon fed to him by wife Lindsey.

A married father of three young children, he could articulate his thoughts through Eyegaze, a device which translates blinks into letters and then builds them into words on a screen.

And his wife Lindsey was a steadfast rock who carried Burrow around their home and did everything for him.

The couple were married for 17 years and first met when Burrow was 15 years old.

Lindsey previously said “I know he’d do the same for me”.

The former rugby league star was even greeted by the Prince of Wales in January.

William was in Headingley Stadium in Leeds, to congratulate Burrow and Kevin Sinfield on their heroic efforts.

Burrow told Prince William “it was an honour” to meet Wills and he was “feeling good”.

Close friend Sinfield – his former captain with Rhinos – picked up the fundraising baton from Burrow as the Leeds great’s condition worsened

Sinfield emotionally carried Rob over the finish line at the Leeds marathon, while raising money and awareness for the disease.

Rob completed the marathon in his chair until the last hurdle in 2023.

Sinfield, 42, then gave Burrow a peck on the cheek before preparing to return him to his chair.

Burrow’s MBE was promoted to a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours before he passed away.

A GoFundMe set up in his honour has reached an incredible £120,308 in donations – with the top being a generous £4,823.

Burrow finally succumbed to MND after bravely battling on for a number of years.

Heartfelt tributes have today poured in for the “hero” who “never allowed others to define what he could achieve”.

The Prince of Wales paid tribute to Burrow describing him as a “legend of Rugby League” who had a “huge heart”.

William added: “He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream’.”

Paying tribute today. the MND Association said: “Our thoughts today are with Rob’s wife Lindsey, children Macy, Maya and Jackson, family and friends and the rugby community.

“Rob, who played at number 7 for Leeds Rhinos, lived with this brutal disease in the public eye after choosing to announce his diagnosis shortly before Christmas 2019. 

“He used every opportunity to raise awareness of the disease, speaking publicly, undertaking media interviews and opening his life up in two moving BBC documentaries My Year With MND and Rob Burrow: Living With MND.”

The charity called the rugby star a “consistent and passionate advocate” in the touching statement.

Broadcaster Dan Walker posted on X to “send all my love” to the grieving family and said the rugby legend “taught us all so much” with his “continued determination and desire to make a difference for others”.

Internationally, Burrow – who was awarded a CBE in January 2023 – was capped 15 times by England and played five Tests for Great Britain.

But he was best known as part of the Leeds team that won the Super League in 2004.

It was a victory that ended the club’s 32-year wait for a title, while he was then named Man of the Match in Rhinos’ 2007 and 2011 victories.

Leeds’ statement released on Sunday evening read: “It is with deep sadness that the club can confirm that former player Rob Burrow CBE has passed away, aged 41.

“Rob inspired the entire country with his brave battle against Motor Neurone Disease (MND) since his diagnosis in December 2019. He passed away peacefully at Pinderfield’s Hospital near his home surrounded by his loving family after becoming ill earlier this week.

“Burrow played his entire career with Leeds Rhinos and won every honour with the club as part of their golden generation.

“A hard working and dedicated player, his fearless performances made him one of the most respected players in the Rhinos ranks.

“Rob rose through the club’s academy ranks to make his debut in 2001.

“In 2004, he was part of the Leeds team that ended a 32-year wait to win the Championship with victory in the Grand Final.

“It was the first of eight Grand Final wins for Burrow including winning the man of the match award in the 2007 and 2011 Old Trafford showpieces.

“The 2011 game included his breath-taking try that is still regarded as the greatest Grand Final try ever scored.”

‘Inspirational’ Burrow

By GARY CARTER

AN INSPIRATION has left us with the sad passing of Rob Burrow following a brave battle against motor neurone disease (MND).

The Leeds Rhinos legend died at Pinderfields Hospital close to his West Yorkshire home yesterday afternoon (Sun) after falling ill earlier in the week.

But his legacy will live on with the way he spearheaded, along with pal and former team-mate Kevin Sinfield, bringing the condition to the nation’s attention since his diagnosis in December 2019.

And fittingly, the groundbreaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Leeds’ Seacroft Hospital will go ahead today (Mon) as planned at the 41-year-old’s request.

Sinfield will do his fifth physical challenge in December after raising millions of pounds for MND charities and awareness of the condition.

Now Leeds’ Headingley Stadium – where Burrow became a rugby league titan – will see an outpouring of tributes after the South Stand was opened to those who want to pay their respects.

His family said: “Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND.

“He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.

“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four-and-a-half years meant so much to Rob.

“In particular, the rugby league family and the MND community have rallied around to inspire him, thank you for your support.

“For those who knew Rob throughout his life, his determination and spirit in the face of MND over the last four-and-a-half years came as no surprise.

“He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.”

Burrow’s playing career was legendary – winning eight Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and three World Club Challenges.

In 492 appearances for his only club, he scored 196 tries in a total of 1,103 points. He was capped 15 times by England and played five more tests for Great Britain.

He also received the ‘ultimate honour’ – rugby league renaming the Grand Final’s player of the match prize after him.

He was the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice, in 2007 and 2011, when he became the first to win by a landslide, earning all 37 recorded votes.

But after his diagnosis, he became the face of the fight against MND, inspiring almost £20 million of fundraising and being awarded a CBE, along with Sinfield, who has raised about £10 million with his challenges.

“Kev was my captain and he still is my captain. He always will be,” said the icon, who leaves wife Lindsey and children Macy, Maya and Jackson, as they launched a book, With You Every Step.

“I wanted to do this book to highlight the importance of friendship and show there are many ways to be strong.

“I hope it gives my three young children an insight into what true friendship is.”

Leeds’ marathon is named after Burrow and the new centre will make sure his legacy lives on.

“This has all been about friendship and trying to help a mate,” said Sinfield about why he did seven marathons in seven days, a 101-mile continuous run, seven ultra marathons in seven days and seven marathons in seven days in seven cities.

“There are 100 reasons why we shouldn’t go again but there are 5,000 reasons why we should – the biggest is Rob.

“The awareness over the last four years has been brilliant, starting with the great Doddie Weir, but it’s the funds that will make such a difference, whether that’s to find a cure or help support families like Rob’s.”

The first Rob Burrow Award will be presented at the Super League Grand FInal on October 14 and he said: “I’m completely overwhelmed by the renaming.

“To be the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice was really special – to have the award named after me is the ultimate honour.”

The Rugby Football League said: “Rob was an outstanding rugby league player, for club and country.

“Since December 2019, his courage and humanity – allied to that of his family, friends and former Leeds Rhinos team-mates, led by Kevin Sinfield CBE – has transcended sport.”