 Burrow with England in 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Robert Geoffrey Burrow[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 September 1982 Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 June 2024 (aged 41) Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 10 st 6 lb (66 kg)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Scrum-half, Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Robert Geoffrey Burrow CBE (26 September 1982 – 2 June 2024) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played as a scrum-half or hooker. Burrow spent his entire professional career with the Leeds Rhinos, making nearly 500 appearances as well as representing Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire.
At 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) tall and weighing 66 kg (146 lb), Burrow was known for many years as "the smallest player in Super League". Despite this, he was one of the most successful players in the competition's history, winning eight Super League championships, two Challenge Cups, being named to the Super League Dream Team on three occasions and winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice.
In December 2019, Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).[6] Following his diagnosis, Burrow raised awareness for MND with fellow player Kevin Sinfield. Both were awarded CBEs in 2024 because of their efforts in raising funds and awareness of the disease. On 2 June 2024, Leeds Rhinos announced that Burrow had died from MND, aged 41.[7][8][9] On 7 July, Burrow's funeral took place, with a private ceremony for friends and family only, at Pontefract Crematorium, Wakefield.
- ^ "Burrow Signs New Two Year Deal With Rhinos". Leeds Rhinos. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2017.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Player profile". Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Player Summary: Rob Burrow". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Profile at therhinos.co.uk". therhinos.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Rob Burrow: Leeds Rhinos legend diagnosed with motor neurone disease". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- ^ "Rob Burrow: Leeds Rhinos announce death of rugby league star". BBC Sport. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Rob Burrow: Leeds Rhinos rugby league legend dies aged 41 after suffering from motor neurone disease". Sky Sports. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Bower, Aaron (2 June 2024). "Rob Burrow, former Leeds scrum-half, dies at 41, years after MND diagnosis". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2024.