Robert Geoffrey BurrowCBE (26 September 1982 – 2 June 2024) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played as a scrum-half or hooker. Burrow spent his entire professional career with the Leeds Rhinos, making nearly 500 appearances as well as representing Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire.
At 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) tall and weighing 66 kg (146 lb), Burrow was known for many years as "the smallest player in Super League". Despite this, he was one of the most successful players in the competition's history, winning eight Super League championships, two Challenge Cups, being named to the Super League Dream Team on three occasions and winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice.
In December 2019, Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).[6] Following his diagnosis, Burrow raised awareness for MND with fellow player Kevin Sinfield. Both were awarded CBEs in 2024 because of their efforts in raising funds and awareness of the disease. On 2 June 2024, Leeds Rhinos announced that Burrow had died from MND, aged 41.[7][8][9]
Burrow joined Leeds Rhinos in 1999, and spent the next couple of years in the academy ranks.[16] He made his first team debut for Leeds in April 2001, appearing as a substitute in a defeat against Hull. He made his first start for the club a week later, scoring a try in a 6–36 defeat against Warrington Wolves.[17] Burrow received further first team opportunities later in the season after Leeds first-choice scrum-half, Ryan Sheridan, was injured[18] and had a number of impressive performances, most notably scoring two tries in a 23–18 win against reigning champions St Helens.[19] He was named the Super League Young Player of the Year at the end of the season.[20]
Burrow played in his first final during the 2003 season, appearing as a substitute in the 2003 Challenge Cup final against Bradford Bulls at the Millennium Stadium, but suffered a concussion in the first half, and took no further part in the game as Leeds lost the match 20–22.[21]
On 12 January 2020, one month after his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis, Burrow came out of retirement to play for Leeds in a pre-season game against Bradford Bulls. The match was originally planned as a testimonial match for Jamie Jones-Buchanan who retired after the 2019 season, but was rebranded to "Jamie Jones-Buchanan testimonial and Rob Burrow support match", with a portion of the revenue going to MND support charities. The match was played by the Leeds first team, but saw a number of Jones-Buchanan's and Burrow's former teammates also come out of retirement for the match. Burrow came on as an interchange with five minutes left to play. Leeds won the match 34–10.[54]
He was named in the squad for the 2006 Tri-Nations, but did not make any appearances.
In June 2007, Burrow was called up to the Great Britain squad for the test match against France.[56] He played a pivotal role in helping Great Britain to a 3–0 victory over New Zealand in the Gillette Fusion Test series in 2007. He was awarded the George Smith Medal as player of the series which he finished as top points scorer with 26 from two tries and nine goals.[57]
Burrow (third from the left) was noticeably smaller than his England teammates
He was not selected for England's 2011 Four Nations campaign due to a rib injury.[59]
Playing style
At 5 ft 5 in tall, Burrow was the smallest player in the Super League for many years during his career.[60][61] According to a teammate, his agility and quickness were phenomenal, which along with his low center of gravity, made him very difficult to defend.[62] He was often compared to other diminutive half-backs such as Roger Millward and Allan Langer.[19][63]
Personal life
Burrow married his wife Lindsey in 2006. They met when they were both 15 and together have three children, two daughters, Macy and Maya, and a son, Jackson.[64] His autobiography Too Many Reasons to Live was published in 2021,[65] and won the Autobiography of the Year at the 2022 Sports Book Awards.[66] He was a fan of the American NFL football team the Seattle Seahawks.[67] In June 2024, Burrow’s wife Lindsey revealed that he had recorded a series of messages to be played for his children at special moments in their lives as they grow up.[68]
Illness and death
On 19 December 2019, Burrow revealed that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).[6]
On 21 June, Leeds Rhinos's first home game following Burrow's death, a similar memorial was created at the John Holmes statue with a video celebrating his life being played in the stadium before kick-off.[71]
Burrow's funeral was held at 1pm on 7 July 2024. A specialised route was put in place for the rugby league community to pay their respects. The cortege drove past Featherstone Lions ARLFC, Burrow's childhood club, before heading towards Pontefract Crematorium for a private ceremony. Kevin Sinfield, along with 160 guests including Rob's family all paid respects at his funeral.
On 26 July 2024, an episode of Coronation Street was dedicated to Rob Burrow. The episode consisted of the character Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) struggling with MND. At the end of the episode a picture of Rob Burrow at the Rovers Return was shown with a message below stating "Friend and Advisor of Coronation Street".[72]
Legacy
In September 2021, an appeal was launched to build a care centre for MND patients in the Leeds area, which would be named the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease.[73][74] To raise money for the facility, the annual Leeds Half Marathon was paired with a full marathon named the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon. Since 2023, both marathons are run the second Sunday in May.[75]
In February 2024 the RFL announced that an award for the Super League Grand Final player of the match would be introduced, replacing the Harry Sunderland Trophy, and will be called the Rob Burrow Award.[77]
At the time of his death, Burrow had raised over £6 million for motor neurone disease awareness and treatment charities. The day following his death, work began on The Rob Burrow Centre: 3 June was a pre-scheduled date. Burrow had a hand in the design and creation of the facility.[9]
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