Those who knew and loved Rob Burrow gathered at a funeral reception to bid their final farewells. The star player for the Leeds Rhinos and England passed away on June 2 after a prolonged battle with motor neurone disease (MND). He was just 41 years old.
Earlier this month, hundreds lined up to pay their respects to the Rugby League icon. At this point, a civil reception was held at Leeds Civic Hall to honor Rob Burrow’s life and work. The event, organized by Abigail Marshall Katung, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, was attended by Rob’s family and around 180 others.
Among the guests were Jamie Jones-Buchanan, his former teammate; Tanya Curry, CEO of the MND Association; and James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council.Rob, who lived in West Yorkshire, passed away in a nearby hospital just hours before the groundbreaking ceremony for a new MND research center to be named in his honor.
Around noon on July 7, hundreds of people began lining the streets to pay their respects as Burrow was taken to a private service. Many wore Leeds Rhino shirts, turning the roads blue, while junior players from Featherstone Lions ARLFC also attended in their gear.
A police motorcycle followed the star’s hearse as it made its way through the crowd.
Following the hearse were five cars, including the one carrying the rugby legend’s wife, Lindsey, whom he married in 2006, and their three children, Macy, Maya, and Jackson. The cortege also included Rob’s sisters, Joanne Hartshorne and Claire Burnett, as well as his parents, Geoff and Irene.
Rob was buried in blue cloth adorned with white flower bouquets spelling out “Dad,” “Bro,” and “Son.”
His group paused briefly at the Featherstone Lions’ ground, where the star played junior rugby. A book of condolences was opened there for people to sign.
Rob Burrow had requested that his heartfelt final message be shared after his passing, urging people not to “waste a moment” of their lives. Burrow stated, “In a world full of adversity, we must still dare to dream.”
The father of three was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and had been tirelessly advocating for the cause ever since.
Rob’s wife, Lindsey Burrow, delivered a poignant tribute, stating that the rugby star “made the world a better place.”
The Sun previously reported that Rob’s 58-year-old friend, Ian Flatt, is climbing seven mountains in a wheelchair to honor him. Flatt, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019, embarked on this remarkable journey as a tribute to his friend.