Civic reception to be held for rugby star

The life and achievements of rugby league legend and motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner Rob Burrow are to be celebrated at a civic reception later.

The former Leeds Rhinos star, who was diagnosed with the degenerative disease in 2019, died on 2 June aged 41.

His family are expected to attend the reception at Leeds Civic Hall at 11:00 BST, along with about 180 guests. It will also be streamed live on the Leeds Rhinos You Tube channel.

The event will be hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Abigail Marshall Katung, with those invited including former teammate Jamie Jones-Buchanan, MND Association chief executive Tanya Curry and James Lewis, the leader of Leeds City Council.

On Sunday, thousands of people, many dressed in rugby shirts, lined the streets to pay their respects as his funeral cortege made its way to Pontefract Crematorium.

Speaking after her husband’s death, Lindsey Burrow said she “could not put into words” how proud she was of the Great Britain and England rugby league star.

She said he had left an incredible legacy and “made the world a better place to be”.

Guests at the reception will hear from Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council, Ed Anderson, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons and president of the Rugby Football League, and Paul Watkins, director of fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Burrow’s best friend and former teammate Kevin Sinfield is currently in New Zealand with the England men’s rugby union squad in his role as defence coach.

He spent 48 hours in the UK last weekend, to attend the funeral after he was granted compassionate leave by England head coach Steve Borthwick.

Burrow won eight Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups during his eight-year career.

However in 2019, two years after his retirement from the sport, he was diagnosed with MND.

In less than five years following his diagnosis, he Sinfield raised more than £15m for MND charities.

Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for his services to rugby league and the MND community, and was promoted to a CBE in the New Year Honours in 2024.

The father of three died at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

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