Rob Burrow dies: Leeds Rhinos legend passes away aged 41

Rhinos said the eight-time Super League Grand Final winner “passed away peacefully at Pinderfield’s Hospital near his home surrounded by his loving family after becoming ill earlier this week”. Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in December 2019.

Burrow played his entire career with Leeds Rhinos, winning every domestic honour as part of the club’s golden generation which dominated rugby league from 2004-2017. He played 492 times for Rhinos from 2001 to 2017, placing him in fifth in the club’s all-time list of career appearances and scored 1,103 points including 196 tries.

He was capped 15 times by England and played five more Tests for Great Britain. He won the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 2014 and 2015 as well as three World Club Challenges and three league leaders’ shields. A member of Leeds’ Super League-winning side in 2004, his try in the 2011 victory over St Helens is regarded as the best ever in a Grand Final.

Following his MND diagnosis Burrow became national campaigners to raise awareness and funds for the MND community. Since then Burrow has inspired two award winning documentaries, wrote a best selling autobiography, hosted an award winning podcast and was awarded a CBE from HRH Prince William at AMT Headingley in January 2023.

Along with his friend and former team mate Kevin Sinfield, Burrow has inspired nearly £20 million in fundraising across the UK and Ireland. This has included raising over £6 million to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds as a lasting legacy for those who follow him in their own personal battles with the disease.

A Rhinos spokesman said: “On behalf of the Burrow family, we would like to thank the staff at Pinderfields Hospital for their compassion and caring for Rob in his final days. Fittingly, as a tribute to the incredible work done by Rob, the groundbreaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital on Monday will go ahead as planned at Rob's request. At this time, we would ask that everyone respect the privacy of the Burrow family.”

Rhinos tonight opened the gates of the South Stand at Headingley Stadium for visitors to come to pay their respects in person.