“In a world full of adversity we must still dare to dream,” was Rob Burrow’s message, embossed on the players’ shirts as they entered the pitch for the women’s and men’s Challenge Cup finals. The death of the former Leeds Rhino was mourned and his life celebrated in equal measure at Wembley to show his legacy will live on in rugby league and beyond.
Burrow’s No 7 was daubed on the halfway line above the message #OneRobBurrow, which was also on the Rhinos shirts, as he was honoured in a competition he won twice as a player for Leeds where he spent 17 years, playing 492 matches. It was not only his ability on the pitch that made Burrow, who died last weekend at the age of 41, a hero but also his determination to raise awareness of motor neurone disease and money to help prevent others suffering as he did after being diagnosed with the condition in 2019, two years after retiring.
Fans laid flowers, shirts and scarves at a statue dedicated to five rugby league legends that stands outside Wembley. Supporters from all teams involved in the various finals paid homage to a sixth legend of the game; a blue No 7 balloon was tied to the monument and flew proudly. Burrow’s beloved Rhinos were in the women’s final but Warriors, Wolves and Saints also took time to pay their respects as blue and yellow dominated the memorials.
Each match started with a perfectly observed silence followed by 60 seconds of applause in the seventh minute, the latter also taking place at the rugby union Premiership final – a nod to Burrow’s number throughout his career, which also resulted in the men’s final at Wembley kicking off at 3.07pm. Burrow was shown with the Challenge Cup in hand on the big screen and huge banners were spread across the stands.
At Wembley Park underground station, there was another banner showing the face and the words of Burrow’s. “A lad from Yorkshire who got to live out his dream,” it read. Wherever anyone looked around the stadium, Burrow was rarely far away.
This was the first chance for many to say goodbye. More Leeds fans than expected travelled to London, knowing they could come together to celebrate their fallen lionheart. The players warmed up with “7 Burrow” on their shirts to make sure he was with them throughout.
After an emotional week, the Rhinos were unable to lift spirits with victory in the women’s final. Their players looked visibly affected during the pre-match silence on a day they failed to cope with St Helens.
As another message left at Wembley declared: “Rob’s legacy will endure through his incredible work and the treatment centre that will bear his name.”
Burrow is gone, but what he has left behind shows he will not be forgotten.
