Rob Burrow tributes flow at Challenge Cup final
On June 8th, 2024 at 5:12 PM, the blog was posted.
On Saturday, the Challenge Cup final took place at Wembley Stadium where Wigan Warriors successfully fought off a late surge from Warrington Wolves with an 18-8 victory. The stadium also paid tribute to Rob Burrow during the game.
The match was postponed for seven minutes after three as a mark of respect for the player's jersey number seven in Leeds Rhinos.
Burrow passed away at the age of 41 on Sunday due to being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) back in 2019.
Afterwards, he invested his life to promoting knowledge about the disease and raising money for charitable organizations alongside his former colleague Kevin Sinfield. They collaborated to collect over £15 million ($19.1m) to aid MND charities.
Burrow was honored on the rugby league calendar's significant day, the Challenge Cup final. Before the game began, a minute of silence was held as a tribute to him. Additionally, players wore jerseys to commemorate him, and the Wembley crowd showed their support with applause during the seventh minute.
After leaving the stadium, supporters placed flowers and personal items at the Rugby League Statue located outside. This statue commemorates the Challenge Cup's past at Wembley.
Burrow was a scrum-half who was comparatively small but possessed impressive speed and skill. He achieved the feat of winning two Challenge Cup titles, eight Super League finals, and three World Club Challenge crowns while playing with Leeds from 2001 to 2017. During his time with the club, he played in 492 games and scored 192 tries. Additionally, he represented England and Great Britain 20 times at the international level.
Danny McGuire, who used to play on the same team as him, described him as a unique individual with admirable traits such as resilience and a strong competitive spirit when speaking to the BBC.
However, what made him stand out the most was his amazing ability to be a fantastic member of the team. He always maintained a positive and cheerful attitude, which kept everyone energized and motivated. It was truly a pleasure to have played alongside him for over two decades.
After the passing of Burrow on Sunday, Sinfield expressed his condolences and paid tribute to him.
Sinfield stated that he was dreading this day, but unfortunately it has come. He expressed his sorrow that the world has lost such an extraordinary man and a dear friend of many. Despite fighting tenaciously until the very end, this amazing man became a symbol of hope and motivation, not only for individuals affected by Motor Neurone Disease, but for everyone who has had the privilege to witness or hear his journey.
William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, showed their respect to the celebrated rugby league player who played for England and Great Britain during his remarkable career.
On X's post, they stated that Rob Burrow was a Rugby League legend who possessed great courage and determination. He inspired others with his words of wisdom about daring to dream despite the challenges we face in life. Catherine, along with myself, would like to express our love and support for Lindsey, Jackson, Maya, and Macy during this difficult time.
