To a cheering crowd, players from both teams in the Challenge Cup final lined up on the grass at Wembley Stadium, united by the name and number on the back of their shirts: Burrow, 7.
On a big day in the rugby league calendar, fans paid tribute to an unlikely star of the game… small, fast and powerful and a Leeds Rhinos player.
But none of the teams were from Leeds.
Instead, it was Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors remembering Rob Burrow and all he achieved on and off the pitch, with a minute’s silence before kick-off – postponed to 3.07pm as another nod to the player.
Then, seven minutes later, the crowd erupted in applause as a photo of Burrow lifting the Challenge Cup for Leeds Rhinos at Wembley in 2015 filled the screens.
Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019, two years after retiring from the game.
He died last Sundayat just 41 years old.
He has made it his mission to raise awareness of the destructive disease that has robbed him of control over his body and to raise funds for research to treat and, hopefully, one day cure it.
Russell Crowe’s tribute to Rob Burrow
Rugby fans attending the games were invited to leave tributes at the Rugby League Legends statue at the stadium.
But the variety of colors represented on the scarves, shirts and flags was proof that those leaving items in Burrow’s memory represented a variety of teams.
Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019
Warrington Wolves fans Dennis McQuillan, his son Charlie and grandson Archie were among those paying their respects.
“Seeing Rob’s death has had a huge impact and the rugby league community really comes together in these times,” Dennis said.
“I’m impressed that they did this and I’m privileged to come and pay tribute to him.”
Read more:
Teammate Kevin Sinfield pays tribute to ‘wonderful friend’
‘Simply the best’: Rob Burrow’s wife shares touching tribute
It’s a legacy that transcends any differences between the game’s two disciplines… with fans in London at Twickenham also applauding during the rugby union Premiership final in the seventh minute.
At Wembley, it wasn’t just men who marked the death of the rugby legend.
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The women played first – Leeds Rhinos defeated by St Helen’s – and both teams wore shirts with these words, which formed part of Rob’s final message: “In a world full of adversity, we must still dare to dream.”
And with family and friends continuing his work, the dream of a cure for such a devastating disease lives on.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
