People who knew and loved Rob Burrow have come together at a funeral reception to say their final goodbyes.
The star player for the Leeds Rhinos and England passed away on June 2 after a long battle with motor neurone disease (MND). He was only 41 years old.
At the beginning of the month, hundreds of people stood in line to say goodbye to the Rugby League star.
At this point, a civil reception was held at Leeds Civic Hall to honor Rob’s life and work.
Rob’s family and about 180 other people came to the event, which was put on by Abigail Marshall Katung, the Lord Mayor of Leeds.
Jamie Jones-Buchanan, their old teammate, Tanya Curry, CEO of the MND Association, and James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, were also invited.
His home was in West Yorkshire. He died in a hospital near there, just hours before the ground was broken on a new center for MND research that will be named after him.
Around noon on July 7, hundreds of people began to line the streets to pay their respects as Burrow was driven to a private service.
A lot of people wearing Leeds Rhino shirts turned the roads blue. Junior players from Featherstone Lions ARLFC also showed up in their gear.
A police motorcycle rode behind the star’s hearse as it drove by the crowds.
His group stopped for a moment at Featherstone Lions’ ground, where the star played junior rugby. A book of condolences was opened so that people could sign it.
He asked that his moving last message be shared after he died, in which he told people not to “waste a moment” of their lives.
Burrow stated: “In a world full of adversity we must still dare to dream.”
There were then five cars behind them with the rugby legend’s wife Lindsey, whom he married in 2006, and their three children, Macy, Maya, and Jackson.
The cortege also had Rob’s sisters Joanne Hartshorne and Claire Burnett, as well as his parents Geoff and Irene.
He was buried in blue cloth that said “Dad,” “Bro,” and “Son” in white flower bouquets that were placed in the back.
The dad of three was told he has MND in 2019 and has been working for the cause for a long time.
Rob’s wife Lindsey Burrow said that the rugby star “made the world a better place,” which was a very moving tribute.