Thousands of mourners are expected to line the streets to pay thier respects to the Rugby League legend Rob Burrow who sadly died last month aged 41 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019.
The funeral for the dad-of-three, who will be remembered as one of the greatest players in Leeds Rhinos history, is being held at Pontefract Crematorium, in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, today (Sunday, July 7). Although it is a private service, members of the public have been invited to line the route of the funeral cortege from 1pm.
Rob’s family chose to hold the funeral today for a very special reason. As rugby fans may well be aware, July 7 marks Rob Burrow Day – the annual celebration held by Leeds Rhinos since 2021 in honour of the iconic scrum half, who wore a number 7 shirt throughout his successful career, the Mirror reports.
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According to a statement shared on the Leeds Rhinos website, the crematorium service will be ‘for invited guests only’, however, members of the public are able to line the route during Rob’s ‘final journey’.
Following his diagnosis just two years into his retirement, the rugby star dedicated his final years to raising awareness of MND – a rare neurodegenerative condition that affects the brain and nerves and causes their muscles to weaken and stiffen. This life-shortening illness impacts everything from speech to movement and, sadly, there is no cure.
Motor Neurone Disease Association patron Rob was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List, both for his outstanding services to Rugby League and the MND community. In 2023, Rob was also chosen as a winner of a Special Recognition Award at the Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards alongside his wife Lindsey, and their good friend Kevin Sinfield.
At the time of the awards ceremony, the determined trio had raised more than £13 million for MND charities, with fundraising efforts including everything from ultramarathons to horse racing. This figure has since surpassed the £15 million mark, which includes the £6 million used to build the Leeds-based Rob Burrow Centre for MND.
Speaking during an appearance on Lorraine last month, Rob’s widow Lindsey spoke about her desire to continue her husband’s legacy. Lindsey, who is mum to Rob’s three children Macy, Maya, and Jackson, said: “It has been a tough few weeks but I know Rob would want us to be happy and I am determined to make Rob proud and to live on his legacy.”
“He might have been small in stature but he was a giant of a man and just an incredible inspiration to us all. He had such an amazing career and then to be the face of the MND [Motor Neurone Disease] community in such difficult circumstances, and for him to open his doors and show the world at a time where he was at his most vulnerable was a really courageous and brave thing to do.”
She continued: Rob taught us so much. He taught us to be positive in his final message about being brave and facing our fears, Rob lived that to every word and he will continue to live on with us – he will be with us every step of the way.”
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