Family, friends, and fans gathered at a funeral reception to bid a final farewell to Rob Burrow, the beloved Leeds Rhinos and England rugby star, who passed away on June 2 at the age of 41 after a courageous battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
Earlier this month, hundreds lined the streets to pay their respects to Burrow, a revered figure in the Rugby League community. A civil reception was held at Leeds Civic Hall to honor Rob’s life and achievements.
The event, organized by Abigail Marshall Katung, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, was attended by around 180 people, including Rob’s family, former teammate Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Tanya Curry, CEO of the MND Association, and James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council.
Rob passed away just hours before the groundbreaking ceremony for a new MND research center, named in his honor, near his West Yorkshire home. On July 7, hundreds of people, many dressed in Leeds Rhinos shirts, lined the streets as Burrow’s cortege made its way to a private service. The procession paused at Featherstone Lions’ ground, where Rob had played junior rugby, allowing fans to pay their respects and sign a book of condolences.
Rob’s wife, Lindsey, and their three children, Macy, Maya, and Jackson, accompanied by Rob’s parents, Geoff and Irene, and his sisters, Joanne Hartshorne and Claire Burnett, followed the hearse, which was adorned with blue cloth and white floral tributes that read “Dad,” “Bro,” and “Son.”
In his final message, shared posthumously, Rob urged people to cherish every moment of their lives, stating, “In a world full of adversity, we must still dare to dream.” Rob’s dedication to raising awareness for MND since his diagnosis in 2019 was highlighted by his wife, Lindsey, who lovingly described him as someone who “made the world a better place.”
In tribute to Rob, his friend Ian Flatt, who was also diagnosed with MND in 2019, is climbing seven mountains in a wheelchair, demonstrating the lasting impact of Rob’s legacy.