The beloved star has di*ed…
Individuals who cherished and admired Rob Burrow gathered at a funeral reception to bid their final farewells. The prominent player for the Leeds Rhinos and the England national team passed away on June 2 after a prolonged struggle with motor neurone disease (MND), at the age of 41.
Earlier this month, hundreds queued to pay their respects to the Rugby League icon. A civil reception was subsequently held at Leeds Civic Hall to commemorate Rob’s life and contributions.
Rob’s family, along with approximately 180 attendees, participated in the event organized by Abigail Marshall Katung, the Lord Mayor of Leeds. Among the guests were Jamie Jones-Buchanan, a former teammate, Tanya Curry, CEO of the MND Association, and James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council.
Rob resided in West Yorkshire and passed away in a nearby hospital, mere hours before the groundbreaking ceremony for a new MND research center named in his honor.
On July 7, around noon, hundreds lined the streets to pay tribute as Burrow was transported to a private service. Many attendees donned Leeds Rhino jerseys, creating a sea of blue, while junior players from Featherstone Lions ARLFC also attended in their uniforms.
A police motorcycle escorted the hearse as it passed by the gathered crowds. The procession paused briefly at the Featherstone Lions’ ground, where Burrow had played junior rugby, allowing attendees to sign a book of condolences.
In his poignant final message, which he requested be shared posthumously, he urged individuals not to “waste a moment” of their lives. Burrow expressed, “In a world full of adversity we must still dare to dream.”
Following the hearse were five cars carrying Rob’s wife Lindsey, whom he wed 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.
He was laid to rest adorned in blue fabric, accompanied by white floral arrangements inscribed with “Dad,” “Bro,” and “Son.”
A father of three received a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2019 and has since dedicated considerable effort to advocating for the cause.
Lindsey Burrow, Rob’s wife, expressed that the rugby star “made the world a better place,” a sentiment that serves as a poignant tribute.
