Rob Burrow dies: Kevin Sinfield tribute to friend and former Leeds team-mate

Fans gathered outside Headingley Stadium, home of Leeds Rhinos, on Sunday to pay tribute to Burrow.

Current Leeds second-row forward Cameron Smith, who played alongside Burrow before he retired in 2017, was among the supporters to pay his respects to his former team-mate.

“It’s a really emotional night. I think it’s amazing with the amount of people who have come to show their respects,” the 25-year-old told Sky Sports.

“I was lucky enough to get a couple of games with him. He was my academy coach and he taught me a lot about the game, and how to be a good team-mate and a good bloke.

“He was a truly tremendous player and he’s left a tremendous legacy here.”

Burrow’s long-time former Leeds team-mate Jamie Peacock wrote on Instagram: “Rob in a sport where courage, bravery and grit are characteristic of every player at the absolute top, you were the most courageous, the bravest and the grittiest of them all.

“Becoming an inspiration for 1000s and a North Star for the MND community, providing hope where before there was none. Never once complaining about your condition and situation. An inspiration to us all. RIP mate.”

Ex-Scotland rugby union international Doddie Weir campaigned alongside Burrow to raise awareness and funds for MND until his death in November 2022 aged 52, and his charity – My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – described Burrow as “a true inspiration”.

The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, set up by former Bradford City footballer Stephen Darby and his close friend Chris Rimmer, well as former England football captain Steph Houghton, who is married to Darby, also paid tribute on social media.

“Devastated doesn’t even come close! Words can’t describe our love for Rob,” Houghton wrote on X.

In March, Burrow attended the start of ‘March of the Day’, a 178-mile march by former footballers in aid of MND, led by ex-Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart and Darby, who both have the illness.