‘I wish he could have seen the outpouring of love’: Emotional Kevin Sinfield says death of his best friend Rob Burrow is ‘pretty raw still’ as he vows to continue to legacy raising awareness for motor neurone disease

An emotional Kevin Sinfield has admitted the death of his best friend Rob Burrow is ‘pretty raw still’ but says he still vows to continue raising awareness of motor neurone disease in his legacy.  

The rugby league star ‘didn’t suffer’ as he passed away in hospital on Sunday at the age of 41 – five years after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MID).

Kevin played for Leeds Rhinos with Rob for 16 years and had worked with his teammate since 2019 to increase awareness of MND, raising more than £15million for charity in the process. 

The former player was in attendance today as Rob’s father Geoff dug the first hole on the site of the new £6million Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.  

Speaking to BBC News, Kevin described Rob as a ‘special person’ and wished ‘he could have seen the outpouring of love’ that has been seen across the country since his passing on Sunday. 

Holding back the tears, Kevin said: ‘He was so brave, so tough. I wish he could have seen the outpouring of love. I think we all lose special people but its very very rare you see someone who is so special to so many different people. It’s pretty raw still and he will leave a massive hole and there will be a lot of people out there who are heartbroken this morning about the news yesterday. 

‘But he cared about everybody and what’s really important is that Rob Burrow continues to live forever. Our team and everybody in the community and everyone that has supported us previously, we will make sure that Rob’s name is at the forefront of everything we do going forward. 

‘To see what he has done over the last four-and-a-half years. I was amazed at some of the things he has done on the rugby field. To see some of the things he has done over the last four and a half years has been unbelievable. 

‘The respect and love and admiration I’ve got for him couldn’t be any higher. The inspiration he has given everyone across the UK who has been across this story. It will live in there memories forever.’ 

Burrow, a fan favourite, won eight Super League titles with Leeds but after being diagnosed with the illness, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community 

The father-of-three had his devoted wife Lindsey, his three children, his parents Geoff and Irene, as well as his two sisters Joanne Hartshorn and Claire Burnett at his bedside at Pinderfields Hospital in Castleford as he moved on. 

Rob’s final wish had been for construction to begin on a new £6million specialist centre for people dealing the incurable illness days in Leeds before his death.

There were emotional scenes this morning as Geoff Burrow dug the first hole on the site, watched by the rest of his family and Kevin. 

The family later visited the tributes laid down by members of the public outside Leeds stadium, near the statue of former Leeds Rhinos player John Holmes, while current players for the club also paid their respects this morning. 

It comes as Rob’s father told journalists the family is determined to keep fighting until a cure for MND has been found.

Speaking at the venue, Mr Burrow revealed that his son had accepted it was his time to go as he passed away over the weekend. 

He said it was ‘obviously a very sad day but it was peaceful and we made sure he ended his journey on his conditions, we didn’t want any suffering and he didn’t suffer, it was very peaceful.

‘He was in hospital. He smiled, we got sad and he gave us the look, you know “pack it in smile” and what have you and we did our best.’

Rob had expressed his wishes in advance about treatment at end-of-life. His father indicated that the brave former rugby league player had accepted his time was up and denied further resuscitation efforts.

Mr Burrow said: ‘I wanted to make sure it was what Rob wanted, if it hadn’t have been then you know we would have fought on. I think his body has had enough. It was on his terms.’

Adding as tears welled up: ‘When he took his final breath you think “what do we do”, but it was like he’d gone to heaven and I’m sure he is.’

His devoted wife Lindsey said that the father-of-three wished for ground to be broken today so work can officially begin on the new £6.8million purpose-built care centre which he spearheaded fundraising efforts for.

His mother Irene Burrow described how she was glued to the television on Monday morning, awestruck at her son’s legacy. She said: ‘I have never been so proud of the amount of publicity we’ve had and the love that everybody is giving us and it helps. 

‘He was such a lovely, lovely person, anybody that met Rob would always say that and I hope we are doing him proud.’

His great friend Kevin Sinfield was at the ceremony but kept his thoughts to himself.

The family paid tribute to Mr Sinfield’s friendship and fundraising efforts as a true inspiration. ‘Kevin, what a tremendous guy. He [Rob] was so proud of Kev.’ 

Sinfield released a heartfelt statement on social media on Sunday evening following Burrow’s passing that read: ‘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.’ 

Former Leeds Rhinos player and teammate of Rob, Jamie Jones-Buchanan revealed that he had only needed to look at Kevin’s face on Sunday night to know Rob had died. 

The rugby league coach said: ‘I’d gone to pick something up, he’d found out about 45 minutes before. When I saw his face, I could tell.

‘He was struggling, really struggling… He’s an emotional guy is Kev.

‘The overwhelming thought for me was how important it was for me to spend those moments when I got back home with my wife and kids so I just turned my phone off

‘If Rob had another 30 seconds left, I doubt he’d pick up his phone. He’d spend it with Maya, Macy, Jackson and Lindsay, and I thought that’s what I need to do.’ 

He said: ‘Every moment was spent doing the right thing, shining a light on the people that needed it the most, and he transcended not just the sport but the nation, and he’s raised millions, he created so much awareness for motor neurone disease.

‘He never said ‘Why me?’, he never complained, he never moaned, very stoic. He fought every minute, he was so brave.

The state-of-the-art, purpose-built Rob Burrow Centre has been designed to provide cohesive care for MND patients who have complex, changing needs.

The building will provide specialist areas for speech and language therapy, dietetics, neurology, respiratory and palliative care.

Once complete, it will also house a therapy space, procedure room and an area for patients to ‘bank’ their own voices if they use a digital aid to support communication.

Families and carers of those with MND will also be supported at the centre.

The site, which is more than 1,000 square metres, will have wheelchair accessible parking and a landscaped garden.

Since Burrow’s death was announced on Sunday evening, the fundraising appeal for the centre has received more than 1,000 donations. The build is expected to take around a year.

Work on the centre was to begin on Monday with an appearance from the Burrow family and despite the news of his death last night, the charity has said construction will go ahead as planned.

His friend Phil Daly said today: ‘We will have the groundbreaking today, that was Rob’s wishes. We spoke to Lindsey on Friday and that’s what he said. We can’t waste a day and Rob wouldn’t want us to waste a day, we start today.’

He added: ‘It’s no reflection of the NHS staff who looked after Rob – they did a great job – but the facilities just aren’t up to scratch. When you’re given that diagnosis in the facilities that are there now, it makes the whole situation so much worse.

‘This centre will be somewhere where people can get their diagnosis and actually find out the next steps. Rob was at the heart of planning for it – there will be family areas there to help children understand in an environment that is comforting.’

Following Rob’s passing donations have continued to flood in to the Leeds Hospital Charity’s JustGiving page, with nearly £5.5million raise so far. 

It comes after the official X account of Prince William and Princess Kate led tributes to the star and posted a touching message and expressed their condolences to his 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.’  

Heart-wrenching tributes last night poured in for the ‘hero’ who ‘never allowed others to define what he could achieve’.

A statement on behalf of his family said he continues to ‘inspire us all every day,’ adding that ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.’ 

Broadcaster Dan Walker posted on X to ‘send all my love’ to the grieving family and said the rugby legend ‘taught us all so much’ with his ‘continued determination and desire to make a difference for others’.

Presenter and ex-footballer Chris Kamara posted: ‘What a trooper Rob was. He fought a real battle with MND. 

‘Rob raised awareness and funds, despite his condition, for other people to benefit from. The impact he leaves will be long lasting. RIP Rob what a hero.’