Inspirational rugby league icon Rob Burrow has died aged 41 after a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease.
Burrow spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles.
While he never played in Australia, he won the World Club Challenge over NRL opponents three times in his career.
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Burrow retired in 2017 and just two years later it was revealed he had been diagnosed with MND.
He never left the public eye and, like Neale Daniher and the Big Freeze campaign in Australia, became the face of the fight in the UK.
He worked with former teammate Kevin Sinfield, who ran marathons and sometimes pushed Burrow the entire way, to raise millions for a new care centre for MND patients.
Leeds announced Burrow’s death on Sunday — just one day before the groundbreaking of the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital, which will go ahead at his request.
Burrow is survived by wife Lindsey and their three children Macy, Maya and Jackson.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend,” the club said.
“Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND.
“He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.
“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four and a half years meant so much to Rob.
“In particular, the rugby league family and MND community have rallied around Rob to inspire him, thank you for your support.
“For those who knew Rob throughout his life, his determination and spirit in the face of MND over the last four and a half years came as no surprise.
“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.”
Fans immediately began placing flowers and personal tributes to Burrow at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium.
Sinfield said “today was the day that I hoped would never come” as he offered his condolences to the Burrow family, including his parents and sisters.
“The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so so many,” Sinfield wrote.
“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.
“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 four 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.”
Prince William was among those to mourn his death on social media.
“A legend of rugby league, Rob Burrow had a huge heart,” he wrote.
“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.”
William awarded Burrow with a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honour in January 2024.