The Prince of Wales has described Rob Burrow as a “legend of rugby league” who had a “big coronary heart” following his loss of life on the age of 41.
Burrow’s former membership Leeds Rhinos introduced on Sunday night that their former scrum-half had died after a four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone illness.
Burrow was identified with the incurable sickness in December 2019 and instantly launched himself right into a marketing campaign to lift consciousness of the illness, elevating thousands and thousands within the course of alongside former team-mate and shut pal Kevin Sinfield.
William, who awarded CBEs to each Burrow and Sinfield for companies to MND consciousness in January, led the tributes with an announcement on his official X account.
He wrote: “A legend of rugby league, Rob Burrow had an enormous coronary heart. He taught us ‘in a world stuffed with adversity, we should dare to dream’. Catherine and I ship our like to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy.”
Burrow’s long-time former Leeds team-mate Jamie Peacock wrote on Instagram: “All of us knew this present day was coming, it was at all times going to be too quickly and none of us needed to consider it.
“Rob in a sport the place braveness, bravery and grit are attribute of each participant on the absolute high, you had been probably the most brave, the bravest and the grittiest of all of them.
“And a way of humour to match, I’ll at all times bear in mind you holding court docket in a dressing room having males twice as massive cower due to your take no prisoners sense of wit.
“The world outdoors of Rugby League obtained to witness first hand your braveness, bravery, grit and sense of humour in probably the most tough of conditions in your inspirational battle with this brutal illness.
“Changing into an inspiration for 1000s and a North Star for the MND group, offering hope the place earlier than there was none. By no means as soon as complaining about your situation and scenario.
“Small in bodily stature however a peerless big by way of character, coronary heart, spirit, resilience, braveness, dedication, humour and bravado.
“An inspiration to us all. RIP mate.”
Ex-Scotland rugby union worldwide Doddie Weir campaigned alongside Burrow to lift consciousness and funds for MND till his loss of life in November 2022 aged 52, and his charity – My Identify’5 Doddie Basis – described Burrow as “a real inspiration” on Sunday night.
Its assertion learn: “We’re so unhappy to listen to of the loss of life of Rob Burrow. Like Doddie, Rob has been a real inspiration for folks dwelling with MND. Our ideas are with Lindsey, their kids and all Rob’s household and pals.”
Leeds boxer Josh Warrington added his tribute in a touch upon the Rhinos’ assertion, writing: “RIP Rob. Impressed to so many. A champion, a legend.”
The Rugby Soccer League mentioned in an announcement on social media: “Rob Burrow was an excellent rugby league participant, for membership and nation. Since December 2019, his braveness and humanity – allied to that of his household, pals and former Leeds Rhinos team-mates, led by Kevin Sinfield CBE – has transcended sport.”
RFL chairman Simon Johnson added: “This devastating information has united all in rugby league in unhappiness and the numerous others who’ve been touched and impressed by the brave response of Rob, his household and pals since his prognosis in December 2019.
“We are going to take some time as a sport to think about how finest to recollect Rob, and to rejoice his life, at our Problem Cup Finals Day at Wembley Stadium subsequent Saturday, when Leeds Rhinos will play St Helens within the Betfred Girls’s Problem Cup Ultimate.
“We had already dedicated earlier this 12 months that the participant of the match within the males’s Betfred Tremendous League Grand Ultimate will obtain the Rob Burrow Award – to be introduced for the primary time at Outdated Trafford this October.”
