'Beacon of hope' - Sinfield's tribute to friend Burrow

Kevin Sinfield paid tribute to Rob Burrow, describing his erstwhile Leeds Rhinos team-mate who has died aged 41 arsenic a "beacon of dream and inspiration".

Rugby convention fable Burrow passed distant connected Sunday pursuing a four-and-a-half-year conflict pinch centrifugal neurone illness (MND).

As friends and erstwhile Leeds team-mates, Sinfield and Burrow raised millions together for kindness to raise consciousness and money investigation into MND.

"Today was nan time that I hoped would ne'er come," said Sinfield. "The world has mislaid a awesome man and a awesome friend to truthful so many."

Burrow and Sinfield were some made CBEs successful nan 2024 New Year Honours. The brace person helped to raise much than £15m for MND charities since Burrow's test successful 2019.

"You fought truthful bravely until nan extremity and became a beacon of dream and inspiration, not only for nan MND organization but for each those who saw and heard your story," said Sinfield.

He said Burrow would "continue to animate maine each azygous day".

Sinfield added: "I would ever opportunity that you were lb for lb nan toughest subordinate I ever played alongside, nevertheless since your diagnosis, you were nan toughest and bravest man I person ever met."

He signed disconnected his tribute by saying: "I will miss you my small mate, each my love, Kev x."

Sinfield has raised millions unsocial for MND by undertaking a bid of endurance challenges.

Last twelvemonth he completed 7 ultra-marathons complete 7 days successful 7 cities, including Dublin, Edinburgh and Birmingham, raising complete £825,000.

The tight-knit brace besides launched nan Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, which took spot for nan 2nd clip past month.

Earlier this year, Burrow and Sinfield contributed to a image book which told nan communicative of a relationship betwixt 2 young boys named Rob and Kev.

In 2022, Burrow was presented pinch nan Helen Rollason Award astatine nan BBC's Sports Personality of nan Year ceremony, pinch Sinfield besides recognised pinch a typical award.