Until the end: Last photo shows Rob Burrow raising awareness of MND (2024)

The last photo of rugby legend and MND campaigner Rob Burrow shows how he continued raising awareness of the deadly illness right up until his death.

The final image believed to have been snapped of the former Leeds Rhino player shows Mr Burrow, 41, in his wheelchair, surrounded by his wife Lindsey, two daughters and former teammate and friend Kevin Sinfield.

The group were at the Leeds marathon which was run by Sinfield, with Lindsey running the half-marathon, to raise money for MND charities.

Mr Burrow died 'peacefully' at Pinderfields Hsopital in Wakefield, near his home, on Sunday while surrounded by his family.

Since being diagnosed with MND in 2019, he and friend Mr Sinfield had raised more than £15 million for MND charities.

The former scrum-half defied doctors to live for five years after his diagnosis, after experts said he could only expect to survive for two.

In a statement released last night after his death, his wife and children said: 'Rob never accepted that he couldn't do something.

'He just found his way of doing it better than anyone else. He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity. We must dare to dream'.

He is survived by his wife and three children, Macy, Maya and Jackson.

In accordance with Mr Burrow's wishes, work is beginning today on a new £6 million centre in Leeds, which will help care for people with motor neurone disease.

Well-wishers gathered outside Headingley Stadium in Yorkshire, the home of his team Leeds Rhinos, on Monday morning to pay their respects, laying flowers, scarves and other tributes.

Burrow's death was confirmed by Leeds on Sunday, following a lengthy and high-profile battle with motor neurone disease.

Rob, who fell gravely ill early last week, had told staff on site at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds on Friday that work should begin immediately.

Burrow's friend Phil Daly said today: 'We will have the groundbreaking today, that was Rob's wishes. We spoke to Lindsey on Friday and that's what he said. We can't waste a day and Rob wouldn't want us to waste a day, we start today.'

In recent years Mr Burrow participated in major fundraising events including marathons, where he was pushed in a specially-adapted wheelchair by Mr Sinfield.

In 2023, the pair of friends captured the hearts of the nation when Mr Sinfield picked his former teammate up out of his chair and carried him across the finish line.

Since the announcement of his death, Prince William led tributes, saying: 'A legend of Rugby League, Rob Burrow had a huge heart. He taught us, 'in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.' Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy.'

Rugby league coach Jamie Jones-Buchanan, a former teammate of Burrow, recalled the first time the two met.

He said: 'I was working on a sports exhibition (at the Royal Armouries) and he come in with a school.

'I explained what they should be doing and he didn't take a blind bit of notice - which was just to bat some balls back, and he smashed them all over the place and I spent all afternoon picking them up.

'I thought this Rob Burrow's a little so-and-so, and that was the character that Rob was.

'Throughout his career he was the centre of the changing room, he was where the fun and a lot of the laughter came from.'

Mr Jones-Buchanan said Burrow was an 'unassuming lad with a superhero origin story' and that he 'brought a gift to the club'.

He added: 'A gift that most people thought was a weakness because he was tiny, but he used that weakness to be a superhero, that was his strength.

'He was world class, so quick, powerful, strong, elusive, brave, courageous on so many occasions on the rugby league field, and inspired so many people, they loved him.'

Burrow spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles.

Ian Harvey, from Guiseley in West Yorkshire, who was among the fans leaving flowers at Headingley on Monday, said he felt it was 'massively important' to visit the stadium to pay tribute to the former player.

He said: 'I had to come down today. I used to work here in the back room staff so I'd seen Rob come through the academy system.

'You knew even back then he was going to make it. For the size of him, nowt fazed him.

'I just thought it was massively important to come down today.'

Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan said Burrow's spirit 'epitomised' the city.

He said: 'Rob really epitomised Leeds, the spirit that he showed, the compassion, the kindness and his will to win.

'That combination of the humanity he had, not just in Rob but in his family as well ... they're all just such genuine, lovely people.

'I've just brought some flowers and a message from myself and the leader and Lord Mayor to pass on our condolences and recognise the role Rob played, which was massive in the city.'

And the MND Association's statement read: 'In doing so much, he inspired support from so many. On the weekend of the Challenge Cup Final in October 2020, fans and supporters donated an incredible £70,000 to the MND Association.

'Just two months later, Rob's former captain Kevin Sinfield CBE took on the first of four incredible challenges raising more than £7 million for MND charities, including the MND Association.

'Rob and Kev's friendship made headline news around the world. Thousands of well-wishers, not just in rugby's heartland, but across the country donated, took on fundraising challenges and pledged support in tribute to Rob's bravery.

'Rob's contribution to rugby league and awareness of MND were recognised in the 2021 New Year's Honours List when he was made an MBE and that same year Rob accepted the role of patron of the MND Association. Rob was subsequently awarded a CBE in the 2024 New Year's Honours list.

'The MND Association is incredibly grateful to Rob and his family for helping to raise awareness of MND, and funds for the Association, by sharing the details of their journey and by inspiring so many people both within the MND community and the wider public.'

'It is testament to the strength of feeling people have for Rob that the support in his name has never wavered.

Burrow rose through the Leeds club's Academy ranks to make his debut in 2001.

In 2004, he was part of the Leeds team that ended a 32-year wait to win the Championship with victory in the Grand Final.

It was the first of eight Grand Final wins for Burrow including winning the Man of the Match award in the 2007 and 2011 Old Trafford showpieces. The 2011 game included his breathtaking try that is still regarded as the greatest Grand Final try ever scored.

In total he made 492 appearances for the club, placing him in fifth in the club's all-time list of career appearances.

The rugby star won the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 2014 and 2015 as well as three World Club Challenges and three League Leaders Shields.

Two years after his retirement in 2017, Burrow revealed his MND diagnosis and began fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of the disease and to improve care and research.

He spearheaded a £6.8 million charity appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a purpose-built care centre for those with MND living in and around the city.

Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list for his services to rugby league and the MND community and was promoted to a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.