hundreds of mourners lined the streets today to pay their respects to rugby league Legend and motor neuron disease sufferer Rob burrow the former Leeds Reno Stars funeral was held in a private service at Pont frct crematorium attended by 161 invited guests burrow passed away peacefully at the age of 41 on June 2 nearly 5 years after being diagnosed with the neurological condition among those paying tribute to him was best friend Kevin sinfield who was granted compassionate leave from England's tour of New Zealand to make the more than 11,000 mile Journey Back Home sinfield clad in a black suit white shirt and black tie walked hand inand with his wife Jane reflecting the deep bond he shared with burrow sinfield a former teammate of burrow for both the renos and the England national team played a pical role in raising more than5 million pounds for M andd Charities alongside burrow their joint efforts have had a significant impact on raising awareness and funds for research and support for those suffering from motor neuron disease Leeds Reno's chief executive Gary heatherington was also present joined by Burrow's former teammates including Jamie Jones panan Ryan Hall and Jamie Peacock who captained burrow when they played for England these individuals who shared many victories and memories with burrow on the field stood together to honor their fallen friend as the service concluded guests were seen wearing special rugby ball-shaped badges with Rob seven inscribed on them a heartfelt nod to Burrow's former jersey number this small yet significant gesture symbolized the enduring Legacy of Burrow's impact on the rugby league Community crowds lined the route of the funeral procession including young rugby players from Burrow's Boyhood Club Featherstone Lions many were seen wearing shirts bearing Burrow's name and number a testament to his influence on the sport and the younger generation of players the presence of these young athletes highlighted the far-reaching impact of brough's career and the inspiration he provided to aspiring rugby players Rob Burrow's journey in rugby league began at a young age born on September 26 1982 in Pont West Yorkshire burrow developed a passion for rugby early on he joined the Featherstone Lions where his talent quickly became evident his small stature standing at just 5' 5 in was often seen as a disadvantage but Burrow's speed agility and determination made him a formidable player on the field in 2001 burrow made his debut for the leads Ringo marking the beginning of an illustrious career over the next 16 years he became one of the most celebrated ated players in the club's history burrow was known for his quick thinking Lightning Fast runs and ability to outmaneuver much larger opponents his partnership with Kevin sinfield on the field was legendary and together they led the renos to numerous victories including multiple Super League titles Burrow's achievements extended beyond the club level he represented England and Great Britain on the international stage earning 15 caps for England and five for Great Britain his contributions to the national team were invaluable showcasing his skill and sportsmanship on a global platform in 2017 burrow retired from professional rugby leaving behind a legacy of excellence and inspiration however his retirement was soon overshadowed by a devastating diagnosis in December 2019 burrow announced that he had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease MNT a progressive neurological condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord the diagnosis was a shock to the rugby community and Beyond but burrow faced it with the same courage and resilience that defined his rugby career following his diagnosis burrow dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for MD research his determination to make a difference led to the establishment of the Rob burrow Center for motor neuron disease and leads a state-of-the-art facility aimed at providing care and support for those affected by the disease Burrow's efforts alongside those of Kevin sinfield and The Wider rugby Community have had a profound impact on the fight against M andd the bond between burrow and sinfield was evident throughout Burrow's battle with M andd sinfield's unwavering support for his friend was highlighted by a series of incredible fundraising challenges in December 2020 sinfield ran seven marathons in 7 Days raising over 2.7 million pounds for M andd research his dedication to supporting burrow and others affected by the disease continued with additional fundraising efforts including running 101 miles in 24 hours and completing an ultra marathon