Newcastle Falcons: Rob Burrow: 'A rugby legend taken far too soon by MND'
The 41 year old's passed away following his battle with motor neurone disease
Tributes are flooding in for rugby league legend Rob Burrow following his death aged 41 after battling motor neurone disease.
Former teammate Kevin Sinfield described him as a "wonderful friend".
He said the world had "lost a great man", adding that his Leeds Rhinos team-mate had been a "beacon of hope and inspiration" since his diagnosis.
Newcastle Falcons also paid their respects on X - formerly Twitter - saying:
'A rugby legend taken far too soon by MND, but Rob Burrow leaves a massive legacy through his fundraising and awareness of this cruel condition. Rest in peace.'
The MND Association said Burrow was a "passionate advocate" for people with the "brutal" disease, with William adding that the "legend of rugby league" had a "huge heart".
Burrow's former team, Leeds Rhinos, said he "passed away peacefully" at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, near his home, surrounded by his family, after becoming ill earlier this week.
Burrow's death has also sparked tributes from the Prince of Wales.
In a personally signed message on X, William said: "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."
In January, the prince surprised Burrow and Sinfield by making them CBEs during a visit to Headingley Stadium, paying tribute to their "phenomenal" efforts in raising funds for motor neurone disease.
Burrow spearheaded a £6.8 million appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a state-of-the-art care centre for people living with motor neurone disease.
Leeds Rhinos said work on Monday to begin building the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease will "go ahead as planned at Rob's request", adding it was a tribute to his "incredible work".
Leeds Hospitals Charity said Burrow was "an inspiration, not only to the people of Yorkshire, but the entire nation, and across the world", adding that he spread joy with his "infectious smile and unwavering sense of humour".
Burrow spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles, and represented Great Britain.
Emotional well-wishers turned up at the club's Headingley Stadium on Sunday to pay their respects, leaving flowers, shirts and other tributes.
The chief executive of the MND Association said Burrow was "brilliant for the motor neurone disease community" and that he lived with the condition with "dignity, kindness and tenacity".
Tanya Curry, who has led the charity since January 2023, told the PA news agency: "We are so grateful for everything that Rob and his family did.
"He allowed his diagnosis to come into people's homes so he could show the impact of this devastating and cruel disease that he lived with since the end of 2019 with such dignity, kindness and tenacity.
"Whenever you met Rob, you couldn't help but smile and have a great conversation with him and he will be missed by so many."
Ms Curry said Burrow, a patron of the MND Association, was "immensely brave" to share his diagnosis and "allowed people to have hope".