On September 26, 1982, Robert Geoffrey Burrow, an English former professional rugby league footballer, was born.
He represented England and Great Britain throughout his 16-year professional career while playing for Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. Over 400 outings took place between 2001 and 2017. Burrow’s height of 5 ft. 5 in. (165 cm) and weight of less than 11 st. (70 kg; 150 lb) earned him the nickname “the smallest player in Super League” for a considerable amount of time.
He was nevertheless among the most successful athletes in the competition’s history, earning two Challenge Cups, three choices to the Super League Dream Team, and two Harry Sunderland Trophies. He also captured eight Super League titles.
After being diagnosed, Burrow worked to advance knowledge of motor neurone disease, earning him an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List.
Burrow received the Helen Rollason award for “raising awareness of/and fundraising” for motor neurone illness at the 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. In recognition of his outstanding efforts in generating money to support and advance research into motor neurone illness, Kevin Sinfield was also given the Panel Special award.
Rob Burrow illness: What disease does Rob Burrow have?
Just two years after his football career ended, in December 2019, Rob Burrow received a motor neurone disease diagnosis.
