The rugby community will convene to pay homage to the late Rob Burrow during the Challenge Cup finals day at Wembley this Saturday. A minute’s silence will be observed by fans before the men’s and women’s matches, followed by a round of applause in the seventh minute of each game.
Leeds Rhinos players have proposed naming a stand at Headingley after Burrow, who passed away at the age of 41 after a courageous battle with motor neurone disease (MND) that spanned four-and-a-half years. The club had already made plans to commemorate Burrow’s legacy with a statue alongside his former captain Kevin Sinfield at the stadium.
During the recent Challenge Cup final media day, Rugby League Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones stated, “Saturday provides us with an opportunity to celebrate his life for everyone at the stadium and also the TV audience. All teams will show their support for Rob and their support for the battle he championed against MND.”
In addition to the moments of silence and applause, players will honour Burrow by wearing black armbands, and there are arrangements to lay floral tributes by the rugby league statue outside Wembley. The upcoming women’s final will feature Burrow’s old club, Leeds, against St Helens, while the men’s match will see Wigan competing against Warrington.
Furthermore, a pre-planned ceremony took place on Monday to commemorate the groundbreaking of the £6million Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds. His family stated that Burrow would have wanted them to be present as construction work started on the site.
In a poignant video message recorded before his passing, Burrow urged his beloved family to cherish every moment and expressed his desire to live in a world free of MND. His profound words, “I want to live in a world free of MND. By the time you watch this I will no longer be here. I’m just a lad from Yorkshire who got to live out his dream of playing rugby league,” continue to resonate with all who knew him.
The upcoming tributes are a fitting way to honour the remarkable life and career of this rugby legend. His legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire and uplift the rugby community for years to come.