The news was confirmed on Sunday
Former England and Leeds Rhinos rugby player, Rob Burrow has died at the age of 41.
Burrow was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2019 at the age of 37.
Rob Burrow has died (George Wood/Getty Images)
Burrow spent his entire 16-year professional career with Leeds Rhinos in the Super League but retired in 2017.
He was later diagnosed with the condition two years later.
Since being diagnosed, Burrow has spent the last few years raising millions of pounds for charities doing research into the disease.
In 2022, he received an MBE for raising money and awareness of the condition.
Kevin Sinfield – Burrow’s friend and fellow rugby player – also began raising money shortly after he was diagnosed.
In 2023, Sinfield was captured carrying his friend over the finish line for the Leeds Marathon.
Rob Burrow was recently carried across the finish line at a Leeds marathon held in his honor (PA)
After pushing him for the 26.2-mile (42.1 km) marathon in a specially adapted wheelchair, Sinfield lifted Burrow and carried him over to complete the race as the crowd cheered on.
“It felt fantastic to be part of a team again with my mate Kevin as our captain,” Burrow said of the ending to the marathon which raised money for charity.
“Kevin joked that he didn’t want me to beat him by crossing the line (in my chair) first. I think he knew I had a cunning plan to claim that I finished before him.
“I want him to know that I have a plan to beat him next year.”