People who knew and loved Rob Burrow gathered together at a heartfelt funeral reception to bid their final farewells.
The cherished star player for the Leeds Rhinos and England passed away on June 2 after a brave and prolonged battle with motor neurone disease (MND). He was just 41 years old.
At the beginning of the month, hundreds of admirers queued to pay their respects to the Rugby League legend.
Later, a solemn civil reception took place at Leeds Civic Hall to celebrate Rob’s life and his substantial contributions to his sport and community.
Rob’s family, along with approximately 180 attendees, joined the event, which was organized by Abigail Marshall Katung, the Lord Mayor of Leeds.
Notable guests included Rob’s former teammate Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 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, just hours before groundbreaking began on a new MND research center named in his honor.
Around noon on July 7, hundreds lined the streets to offer their respects as Burrow was taken to a private service.
Many in the crowd wore Leeds Rhino shirts, turning the roads blue in tribute. Junior players from Featherstone Lions ARLFC also appeared in their team uniforms.
A police motorcycle escorted the hearse carrying the star, navigating through the crowds.
Following were five vehicles, carrying the rugby icon’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.
Rob was laid to rest in blue cloth, adorned with white flower bouquets spelling out “Dad,” “Bro,” and “Son.”
The procession paused momentarily at the Featherstone Lions’ ground, where Rob began his rugby journey in junior leagues. A book of condolences was available for signing to honor his memory.
Rob had requested that his poignant final message be shared after his passing, urging everyone to “not waste a moment” of their lives.
In his moving words, Burrow said: “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 passionately advocating for the cause ever since.
Rob’s wife, Lindsey Burrow, shared a touching tribute, remarking that the rugby star “made the world a better place.”
The Sun previously reported that Rob’s 58-year-old friend, Ian Flatt, is undertaking the monumental task of climbing seven mountains in a wheelchair to honor his late friend. Flatt was also diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019.
