FAMILY’S HEARTBREAK
Rob Burrow’s dad dies aged 74 after campaigning for motor neurone disease sufferers following death of rugby star son
ROB Burrow’s dad Geoff has died aged 74 after tirelessly campaigning for motor neurone disease sufferers following the death of his son.
The rugby legend’s former club Leeds Rhinos confirmed the tragic news with a touching tribute on social media.
The club confirmed Geoff had passed away after a “period of ill health”.
An announcement was posted alongside a black and white picture of Geoff wearing a jumper in memory of his son.
In a statement, it wrote: “It is with deep sadness that the club has learnt of the passing of Geoff Burrow, the father of Rob Burrow.
“Leeds-born Geoff was a tireless campaigner for the MND community following Rob’s diagnosis in December 2019 and continued that work after Rob’s passing in June 2024.
“A devoted husband, father and a grandfather, Geoff brought Rob to his first ever game at Headingley and started his love of the Rhinos.
“Geoff was always a champion for those who did not have a voice throughout his career as a trade union representative.
“Our deepest condolences go to Geoff’s wife Irene and the whole Burrow family at this time. May he rest in peace.”
Geoff’s passing comes almost two years after the death of his son, who died on June 2, 2024 after a brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Rob, 41, was diagnosed with the disease in 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-season rugby league career.
His parents looked after him for two days a week to allow his wife Lindsey to carry on with her job as an NHS physiotherapist.
Geoff, of Pontefract, Yorkshire, vowed to “fight for my son until my dying day”.
Speaking after Rob’s death, he said: “We made sure he ended his journey on his conditions, we didn’t want any suffering… 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.”
“It was very sad, surreal, you know you feel as though there is going to be a big difference and there isn’t, we still haven’t quite accepted it yet.”
“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.”
Geoff and Rob’s mum Irene were visibly emotional as they watched work begin on a £6million MND centre in Leeds in the rugby star’s memory.
And Geoff has campaigned tirelessly for sufferers of the disease since dad-of-three Rob’s passing.
Tributes have flooded in from across the rugby world after the heartbreaking announcement this morning.
Warrington Wolves wrote: “Everyone at Warrington Wolves sends our love and support to the Burrow family at such a difficult time.”
Hull FC penned: “The thoughts and condolences of everyone at Hull FC are with Geoff’s family and friends, and the entire Burrow family. RIP, Geoff”
Rob joined Leeds Rhinos as a 19-year-old and played his entire 16-year career with the club, competing in close to 500 games.
He won the Challenge Cup on two occasions and also won the Super League a whopping eight times with Leeds Rhinos.
Burrow was also selected to play for England at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia in 2008.
The scrum-half decided to retire in 2017, bringing to a close his glittering Rhinos career, before he was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2020.
What is the £6m centre?
The new £6million Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to support the complex – changing needs of those with the illness.
Work began at the site at Seacroft Hospital today, with Burrow’s family saying he “would be looking down and smiling”.
The former England rugby star had been spearheading a £6.8m charity appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity to build the centre to support those living with the incurable disease.
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.
Views of patients, families and carers and the needs of clinical staff and other specialist services have all been incorporated in the design of the facility.
Since Burrow’s death was announced yesterday the fundraising appeal for the centre has received more than 1,000 donations.
The build is expected to take around a year.
In December 2019 it was revealed that Burrow had been suffering with MND.
After being diagnosed with the illness, he dedicated himself to helping the MND community.
Rob could articulate his thoughts through Eyegaze, a device which translates blinks into letters and then builds them into words on a screen.
And his wife Lindsey was a steadfast rock who carried Burrow around their home and did everything for him.
The Prince of Wales paid tribute to Burrow describing him as a “legend of Rugby League” who had a “huge heart”.
William added: “He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream’.”
