BBC Breakfast in show shake up as Sally Nugent is replaced just hours after emotional tribute to close friend Rob Burrow
AN INSPIRATION has left us with the sad passing of Rob Burrow following a brave battle against motor neurone disease (MND).
The Leeds Rhinos legend died at Pinderfields Hospital close to his West Yorkshire home yesterday afternoon (Sun) after falling ill earlier in the week.
But his legacy will live on with the way he spearheaded, along with pal and former team-mate Kevin Sinfield, bringing the condition to the nation’s attention since his diagnosis in December 2019.
And fittingly, the groundbreaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Leeds’ Seacroft Hospital will go ahead today (Mon) as planned at the 41-year-old’s request.
Sinfield will do his fifth physical challenge in December after raising millions of pounds for MND charities and awareness of the condition.
Now Leeds’ Headingley Stadium – where Burrow became a rugby league titan – will see an outpouring of tributes after the South Stand was opened to those who want to pay their respects.
His family said: “Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND.
“He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.
“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four-and-a-half years meant so much to Rob.
“In particular, the rugby league family and the MND community have rallied around 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.
“He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.”
Burrow’s playing career was legendary – winning eight Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and three World Club Challenges.
In 492 appearances for his only club, he scored 196 tries in a total of 1,103 points. He was capped 15 times by England and played five more tests for Great Britain.
He also received the ‘ultimate honour’ - rugby league renaming the Grand Final’s player of the match prize after him.
He was the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice, in 2007 and 2011, when he became the first to win by a landslide, earning all 37 recorded votes.
But after his diagnosis, he became the face of the fight against MND, inspiring almost £20 million of fundraising and being awarded a CBE, along with Sinfield, who has raised about £10 million with his challenges.
“Kev was my captain and he still is my captain. He always will be,” said the icon, who leaves wife Lindsey and children Macy, Maya and Jackson, as they launched a book, With You Every Step.
“I wanted to do this book to highlight the importance of friendship and show there are many ways to be strong.
“I hope it gives my three young children an insight into what true friendship is.”
Leeds’ marathon is named after Burrow and the new centre will make sure his legacy lives on.
“This has all been about friendship and trying to help a mate,” said Sinfield about why he did seven marathons in seven days, a 101-mile continuous run, seven ultra marathons in seven days and seven marathons in seven days in seven cities.
“There are 100 reasons why we shouldn’t go again but there are 5,000 reasons why we should – the biggest is Rob.
“The awareness over the last four years has been brilliant, starting with the great Doddie Weir, but it’s the funds that will make such a difference, whether that’s to find a cure or help support families like Rob’s.”
The first Rob Burrow Award will be presented at the Super League Grand FInal on October 14 and he said: “I’m completely overwhelmed by the renaming.
“To be the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice was really special – to have the award named after me is the ultimate honour.”
The Rugby Football League said: "Rob was an outstanding rugby league player, for club and country.
"Since December 2019, his courage and humanity - allied to that of his family, friends and former Leeds Rhinos team-mates, led by Kevin Sinfield CBE - has transcended sport."