- Rugby League fans to pay tribute to Rob Burrow with minute’s silence
- Burrow passed away at age 41 after a battle with motor neurone disease
Rugby League fans will pay their respects to Rob Burrow at Wembley on Saturday, with a minute’s silence before the men’s and women’s Challenge Cup finals and a round of applause in the seventh minute of the games.
Leeds Rhinos players have also called for a stand at Headingley to be named after Burrow, who died on Sunday aged 41 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone disease.
The club had already commissioned a statue of the Rhinos legend alongside former captain Kevin Sinfield at the stadium.
Speaking at the final Challenge Cup media day on Monday, Rugby League chief commercial officer Rhodri Jones said: “Saturday gives us the opportunity to celebrate his life for everyone in the stadium and also for the BBC television audience.
“All teams will show their support for Rob and their support for the battle he fought against MND.”
Rugby League fans to pay their respects to Rob Burrow at Wembley on Saturday
A minute’s silence will be observed before the men’s and women’s Challenge Cup finals
Burrow died Sunday at age 41 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with MND.
As well as moments of silence and applause, players will wear black armbands and there are plans to lay floral tributes in accordance with rugby league statutes outside Wembley.
Burrow’s former club Leeds will contest Saturday’s women’s final against St Helens, before the men’s game between Wigan and Warrington.
Rhinos center Caitlin Beevers said: ‘As a club we are devastated. We have work to do on Saturday but we will definitely keep it in mind.
‘I grew up watching the golden age and he was someone I inspired to be. In the early stages of my career at Leeds, he spoke to me many times during training.
‘On and off the field, he was just a great man. I think naming a position after Rob would be a good decision.
“He occupies such a place in the hearts of Leeds Rhinos and rugby league that he must be commemorated.”
In 2021, Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington announced that they would build a statue of Burrow and Sinfield embracing, as they “perfectly encapsulate everything we consider special about rugby league”.
A pre-planned ceremony to mark the opening of the Rob Burrow Center for Motor Neurone Diseases took place at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds on Monday.
Kevin Sinfield said Burrow’s death will leave a gaping hole, adding that he wishes he could have seen the outpouring of love.
Burrow’s father, Geoff, was one of six people to put the first shovels in the ground and said: “It’s amazing what a little man can achieve.”
His mother Irene added: “This is what Rob would want and I think he would be proud that we all recovered and had the strength to come.” He will look down on us and give us the thumbs up.’
Burrow’s friend Sinfield, whose incredible fundraising efforts helped pay for the Rob Burrow Center, also attended the ceremony. Fighting back tears, he said: “You can see he’s still pretty raw.”
“We all lose special people, but it’s very, very rare that you lose someone who is so special to so many people.
“It leaves a huge void and there will be many people who will be heartbroken by the news.” I wish I could have seen the outpouring of love.”
