Hundreds of rugby league fans lined the streets to pay their final respects to legend Rob Burrow, a month after his death.
Father of three and one of Leeds Rhinos’ most celebrated players of all time, Rob tragically passed away in 2019 aged just 41 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
Rob’s funeral will be held on Sunday 7th July at Pontefract Crematorium, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
The date also marks the start of Leeds Rhinos’ annual Rob Burrows Day, which will take place from 2021, a day to honour the iconic scrum-half who proudly wore the number 7 shirt throughout his illustrious career.
According to a statement on the Leeds Rhinos website, crematorium services are “available to invited guests only”.
However, the public was encouraged to line the streets during Rob’s “final journey”.
Members of Featherstone Lions ARLFC, the first club Burrows joined as a boy, joined other mourners in paying tribute to the 41-year-old.
Diagnosed with motor neurone disease just two years after retiring, the rugby star has dedicated the rest of his life to raising awareness of the rare neurodegenerative disease, which affects the brain and nerves, causing muscle weakness and stiffness.
This life-threatening disease affects everything from speech to movement, and unfortunately, there is no known cure.
Burrows was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List in recognition of his outstanding contribution to rugby league and the MND community.
In a heartwarming twist, Rob, along with wife Lindsay and close friend Kevin Sinfield, was honoured with a Special Merit Award at the Mirror’s 2023 Pride of Britain Awards.
In an emotional interview with Lorraine last month, Lindsay expressed her determination to carry on her late husband’s legacy.
“It’s been a tough few weeks, but I know Rob would want us to be happy and I’m determined to make him proud and carry on his legacy,” she said.
Lindsay will miss Rob, saying: “He was a small man, but he was a huge man and a huge inspiration to all of us.
“He’s had an absolutely incredible career and has become the face of the MND community in such difficult circumstances and it was really brave and bold of him to open up and show the world when he was most vulnerable.”
