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Inspirational rugby league icon Rob Burrow has died aged 41 after a long battle with motor neurone disease.
Burrow spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles.
Despite never playing for Australia, he won the World Club Challenge over NRL opposition three times in his career.
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Burrow retired in 2017 and just two years later it was revealed he had been diagnosed with MND.
He never left the public eye and, like Neil Daniher and the Big Freeze campaign in Australia, he did the face of battle in the UK.
He worked with former teammate Kevin Sinfield, who ran marathons and sometimes pushed Burrow all the way, to raise millions for a new care center for MND patients.
Leeds announced Burrough’s death on Sunday – just a day before the ground breaking of the new Rob Burrough Center for MND at Seacroft Hospital, which will go ahead at his request.
Burrow is survived by his wife, Lindsay, and their three children, Macy, Maya and Jackson.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend,” the club said.
“Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life, whether it was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND.
“He never let others define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.
“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the entire Burrow family have received over the past four and a half years has meant so much to Rob.
“In particular the rugby league family and the MND community have rallied around Rob 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.
“Rob never accepted that he couldn’t do something. He just found his way to do it better than anyone else.
“He will continue to inspire us every day. In a world full of adversity. We must dare to dream.”
Fans immediately began laying flowers and paying personal tributes to Burrow at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
Prince William was among those mourning his death on social media.
“A rugby league legend, Rob Burrow had a huge heart,” he wrote.
“He taught us that ‘in a world full of misfortune, we must dare to dream.’ Kathryn and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy.
William awarded Burrow a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in January 2024.
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