The wife of Rob Burrow has said he “made the world a better place to be”.
In a moving tribute, Lindsey Burrow said her husband had given “so many people hope” and had left an “incredible” legacy.
Ex-rugby league player Burrow died at the age of 41 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone disease.
In a first look video from BBC Breakfast’s interview, Mrs Burrow said it had been “overwhelming” to see all of the tributes paid to Rob.
“I couldn’t put into words just how proud I am of Rob,” she said.
“I think he was just such an inspiration to so many people, and gave so many people hope.
“The legacy he leaves is just incredible.
“Despite the grief and despite the sadness, we have so much to be thankful for, for having Rob in our lives.
“He made the world a better place to be.”
Speaking about the reaction to his death, she said: “It was really overwhelming to the see the support and the tributes.
“It struck me that it wasn’t just from the Leeds Rhinos community, it was from all walks in the rugby league community.
“That’s what Rob’s done, he’s brought a community together.”
Burrow spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles.
Two years after his retirement in 2017, Burrow revealed his MND diagnosis and began fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of the disease and to improve care and research.
Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list for his services to rugby league and the MND community and was promoted to a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here