Rob Burrow’s widow and youngsters lay flowers at Headingley

This is the heartbreaking moment Rob Burrow’s widow and his children lay flowers at Headingley in memory of the Rugby League star following his death. 

Rob’s wife Lindsey and their three children Macy, Maya and Jackson joined well-wishers outside the stadium in Yorkshire, which was the home of his team Leeds Rhinos, to lay flowers in memory of the beloved 41-year-old.

Lindsey was unable to hold back her tears as she and her children approached the huge collection of flowers, scarves and other tributes, which have been left by fans since Rob’s death was announced on Sunday. 

She was later seen consolling her children while reading some of the heartfelt messages in memory of the sporting hero who died following a lengthy and high-profile battle with motor neurone disease (MND).

Lindsey released a statement on Monday, in which she said her family was ‘deeply saddened by the loss of our devoted husband and father’ but remains ‘incredibly proud’ of Rob and vowed to continue to keep his ‘legacy alive’. 

Rugby league coach Jamie Jones-Buchanan, a former team-mate of Burrow, attended Headingley on Monday morning to see the floral tributes, where he recalled the first time he met Rob.  

He told the PA news agency: ‘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 told PA that 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.’

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.

His best friend Kevin Sinfield, who played with Rob during his time at Leeds Rhinos, had worked with his former teammate since 2019 to raise awareness of MND and had raised more than £15million for charity in that time. 

Rob’s death over the weekend sparked an outpouring of sadness with Kevin and the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales joining in the wave of tributes to his larger than life character.

Kevin said: ‘Today was the day that I hoped would never come. The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so so many. You fought so bravely until the end and became a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only for the MND community but for all those who saw and heard your story.

‘My love and thoughts go out to your beautiful family, Lindsey, Macy, Maya, and Jackson, to your lovely parents Geoff and Irene, sisters Joanne and Claire and your wider family and friends.

‘You will continue to inspire me every single day. I have lost a dear friend and I will never forget the special times we shared both on and off the pitch. I would always say that you were pound for pound the toughest player I ever played alongside, however, since your diagnosis, you were the toughest and bravest man I have ever met.

‘The last 4 and a half years you showed the world what living and loving looked like and this was always done with the biggest smile on your face.

‘I will miss you my little mate. All my love, Kev.’

The official X account of Prince William and Princess Kate earlier posted a touching message and expressed their condolences to the brave legend’s family.

The post read: ‘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.’ It was signed off with a W for William.

The MND Association, a charity for which Rob and Kevin raised millions of pounds following his diagnosis, also paid tribute.

In a statement it said: ‘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 CBE 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.

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

‘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.’

Incredibly, and poignantly, work to build a new £6 million Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds began on Monday- less than 24 hours after his death.

The build is expected to take about a year and the charity remains focused on raising the last £1million of their target.

Paul Watkins, director of fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity, said: ‘The family still want it to go ahead. That just shows how magnanimous and gracious they are.

‘All along they have thought about others.’

He added: ‘We’ve raised £5.85 million of the £6.8 million centre and we will continue until we get there.

‘We’re just devastated at the news today. Rob’s work transcended the Rugby League community. At a time when he was most vulnerable he put himself out there.

‘Few people in the UK now don’t know what MND is, and a lot of that is because of Rob.

‘I was lucky enough to be in the room with him many times and fortunate enough to catch that glint in his eye or his smile. His smile would light up any room.

‘He was a joy to be around.’