- Rugby League great Rob Burrow passed away last weekend at the age of 41.
Rugby League paid tribute to the late Rob Burrow ahead of the Challenge Cup final between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves at Wembley on Saturday.
Burrow passed away at the age of 41 last weekend after a five-year battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
Burrow won two Challenge Cups with Leeds Rhinos during his brilliant career, and ahead of Saturday’s final, both groups of players took to the field wearing t-shirts to raise awareness of MND.
Fans and players then observed a minute’s silence after an opening round of applause for the immensely popular Rugby League player.
The final began at 3:07 p.m., seven minutes later than originally scheduled, in honor of the number Burrow wore on his jersey during his playing days from 2001 to 2017.
Fans and players held a minute’s silence for Rugby League great Rob Burrow following his death last weekend.
Just two years after ending his career, Burrow was diagnosed with MND.
Following his diagnosis, Burrow, along with his close friend and former Leeds team-mate Kevin Sinfield, raised £15 million for MND charities.
Sinfield carried Burrow to the finish line in an incredibly moving moment at the inaugural Leeds Marathon last year.
Last Sunday he paid a moving tribute to Burrow, hailing his “little mate” as the “toughest, bravest man I’ve ever met.”
That sentiment has been shared by the rest of the Rugby League community, with thousands of fans heading to Leeds Stadium, Headingley, to leave flowers and messages for the Burrow family earlier this week.
More flowers and tributes were also laid next to a statue outside Wembley Stadium on Saturday ahead of the Challenge Cup final.
Football also honored Burrow on Monday night with a one-minute applause before England faced Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park.
The Rugby Union followed suit, as fans stood and applauded Burrow in the seventh minute of the Premiership final between Northampton and Bath at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
More to continue…