Rob Burrow

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Rob Burrow
CBE
Personal information
Full nameRobert Geoffrey Burrow[1]
Born (1982-09-26) 26 September 1982 (age 41)
Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)[2]
Weight10 st 6 lb (66 kg)[2]
PositionScrum-half, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001–17 Leeds Rhinos 492 196 157 5 1103
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004–13 England 13 9 12 0 60
2005–07 Great Britain 5 4 9 0 34
2002–03 Yorkshire 2 0 1 0 2
Source: [3][4][5]

Robert Geoffrey Burrow CBE (born 26 September 1982) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a scrum-half or hooker.

An England and Great Britain representative, he spent his entire 16-year professional career with Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, making over 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017. At 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) tall and weighing less than 11 st (70 kg; 150 lb), Burrow was known for many years as "the smallest player in Super League". Despite this, he was one of the most successful players in the competition's history, winning eight Super League championships, two Challenge Cups, being named to the Super League Dream Team on three occasions and winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice.

In December 2019, Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).[6]

Club career[edit]

Born in Pontefract, Burrow played junior rugby league with Featherstone Lions.[7] He joined Leeds Rhinos in 1999, and spent the next couple of years in the Academy ranks.[8] He made his first team debut for Leeds in April 2001, appearing as a substitute in a defeat against Hull. He made his first start for the club a week later, scoring a try in a 6–36 defeat against Warrington Wolves.[9] Burrow received further first team opportunities later in the season due to an injury suffered by Leeds first-choice scrum-half, Ryan Sheridan,[10] and had a number of impressive performances, most notably scoring two tries in a 23–18 win against reigning champions St Helens.[11] He was named the Super League Young Player of the Year at the end of the season.[12]

Sheridan re-gained his place in the starting lineup for the 2002 season, with Burrow making most of his appearances from the bench.

Burrow played in his first final during the 2003 season, appearing as a substitute in the 2003 Challenge Cup final against Bradford Bulls at the Millennium Stadium, but he suffered a concussion in the first half, and took no further part in the game as Leeds went on to lose the match 20–22.[13]

Burrow played for the Leeds Rhinos from the interchange bench in their 2004 Super League Grand Final victory against the Bradford Bulls. As Super League IX champions, the Rhinos faced 2004 NRL season premiers, the Bulldogs in the 2005 World Club Challenge. Burrow played from the interchange bench, scoring a try in Leeds' 39–32 victory. He played for Leeds in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final at scrum half back in their loss against Hull FC.[14] Later that year he played for the Leeds Rhinos at stand-off half back in their 2005 Super League Grand Final loss against Bradford Bulls.

He was named as Leeds Rhinos Player of the Year for his performance throughout the 2007 season, and was named in the Super League Dream Team for the same year along with teammates Scott Donald, Jamie Peacock and Gareth Ellis. He was the winner of the Harry Sunderland Award for a man of the match performance in 2007's Super League XII Grand Final, in which Leeds defeated St. Helens by 33 points to 6.

Burrow was named in the Super League Dream Team for 2008's Super League XIII season.[15] He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens.[16]

Burrow following the 2009 Super League Grand Final.

Burrow played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.[17]

Burrow played in five Challenge Cup Finals in six years between 2010 and 2015, with Leeds Rhinos losing in three consecutive finals in 2010,[18][19] 2011,[20][21] and 2012.[22][23] The team then won successive finals in 2014[24] and 2015.[25][26]

Burrow also played in the 32–16 victory over St Helens in the 2011 Super League Grand Final,[27][28] with his first-half try, a 50-metre solo effort,[29] being regarded as one of the greatest tries in Grand Final history.[30] He won the Harry Sunderland Award for the second time when he was unanimously voted as man of the match.[31] He also played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final victory over the Warrington Wolves,[32][33][34] and the 2015 Super League Grand Final victory over the Wigan Warriors.[35]

Burrow announced his retirement in 2017.[36] His final match was the 2017 Super League Grand Final in which he helped his club, Leeds to victory over the Castleford Tigers at Old Trafford.[37][38][39]

International career[edit]

Burrow made his debut for Great Britain in the team's opening match of the 2005 Tri-Nations against New Zealand.[40] He was also in the squad for the 2006 Tri-Nations, but did not make any appearances.

In June 2007, Burrow was called up to the Great Britain squad for the Test match against France.[41] He played a pivotal role in helping Great Britain to a 3–0 victory over New Zealand in the Gillette Fusion Test series in 2007. He was awarded the George Smith Medal as player of the series which he finished as top points scorer with 26 from two tries and nine goals.[42]

Burrow was selected for the England squad to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup tournament in Australia.[43] In the first Group A match against Papua New Guinea, he played at scrum half back, with England winning the game.

He was not selected for England's post-season 2011 Four Nations campaign due to a rib injury.[44]

Playing style and legacy[edit]

At 5 ft 5 in tall, Burrow was the smallest player in the Super League for many years during his career.[45][46] He was often compared to other diminutive half-backs such as Roger Millward and Allan Langer.[11][47]

In February 2024 the RFL announced that a new award for the Super League Grand Final player of the match would be introduced (replacing the Harry Sunderland Trophy) and will be called the Rob Burrow Award.[48]

Personal life[edit]

Burrow has two daughters and a son with his wife Lindsey.[49] His autobiography Too Many Reasons to Live was published in 2021,[50] and won the Autobiography of the Year at the 2022 Sports Book Awards.[51] He is a fan of the American NFL football team the Seattle Seahawks.[52]

Illness[edit]

On 19 December 2019, Burrow revealed that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).[53] In January 2020, a game between Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls, originally scheduled as a testimonial match for Jamie Jones-Buchanan, took place to help raise funds in support of Burrow and his family, with Burrow himself briefly taking part in the match.[54]

In September 2021, an appeal was launched to build a new care centre for MND patients in the Leeds area, which would be named the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease.[55] With the help of former Leeds teammate Kevin Sinfield, over £5 million had been raised for the treatment centre as of December 2023.[56]

Burrow was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to rugby league and the motor neurone disease community[57] and promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to motor neurone disease awareness.[58]

Honours[edit]

Club

Individual

Orders and special awards

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Burrow Signs New Two Year Deal With Rhinos". Leeds Rhinos. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Player profile". Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Player Summary: Rob Burrow". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Profile at therhinos.co.uk". therhinos.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Rob Burrow: Leeds Rhinos legend diagnosed with motor neurone disease". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Wakefield and Castleford struggle to square circle in golden triangle". The Guardian. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  8. ^ Burrow, Rob (2021). Too Many Reasons to Live. London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-5290-7324-9.
  9. ^ "Rampant Wolves Off The Mark". Warrington Guardian. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  10. ^ Laybourn, Ian (9 September 2001). "Powell eager for a happy return". The Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  11. ^ a b Wilson, Andy (22 September 2001). "Burrow the pint-sized Saint with a big future". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  12. ^ "St Helens scoop awards". The Guardian. 9 October 2001. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  13. ^ Wilson, Andy (28 April 2003). "Bulls in harmony as Leeds strike a sour note". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup". BBC News. 27 August 2005. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  15. ^ "2008 engage Super League Dream Team". Super League. 15 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  16. ^ "2008 Grand Final". BBC. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  17. ^ Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  18. ^ Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  19. ^ Wilson, Andy (28 August 2010). "Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  20. ^ Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  21. ^ Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
  22. ^ "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". The Guardian. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  25. ^ "Leeds emphatically shut out Hull KR to lift Challenge Cup". The Guardian. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 0-50 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  27. ^ "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  28. ^ "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  29. ^ "St Helens 16-32 Leeds". BBC Sport. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  30. ^ "The greatest Grand Final try ever?". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Burrow digs deep as Leeds scale heights". The Independent. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  33. ^ "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". The Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  34. ^ "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  35. ^ "Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final". The Guardian. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  36. ^ "Leeds Rhinos: Retiring playmaker Burrow opts for fresh challenge with the Rhinos". Yorkshire Evening Post. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  37. ^ "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". The Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  38. ^ "Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  39. ^ "Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford". The Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  40. ^ "Great Britain 26-42 New Zealand". BBC Sport. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Eight new faces in Lions squad". BBC. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  42. ^ Burke, David (12 November 2007). "Rob Burrow walks tall for Great Britain". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  43. ^ "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  44. ^ Sky Sports (11 October 2011). "Ablett named in England squad". Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  45. ^ "Leeds in profile". BBC Sport. 12 October 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  46. ^ "Burrow prepares to take his game to new heights". The Guardian. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  47. ^ "Burrow is new Langer". BBC Sport. 25 February 2002. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  48. ^ "Rob Burrow: Super League Grand Final award renamed after former player". BBC Sport. 7 February 2024.
  49. ^ Appleyard, Joe (12 January 2023). "Geoff Burrow's heartfelt words after Rob Burrow's freedom of Leeds honour". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  50. ^ Burrow, Rob (19 August 2021). Too many reasons to live. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 9781529073270. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  51. ^ "Michael Holding's book does the double at annual awards". The Sunday Times. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  52. ^ "Burrow: 'I cannot get over how much people are willing to do for me'". The Independent. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  53. ^ "Rob Burrow: Leeds Rhinos legend diagnosed with motor neurone disease". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  54. ^ "Tears never far away as rugby league shows support to Rob Burrow". The Guardian. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  55. ^ "Rob Burrow backs £5m charity appeal to build state-of-the-art Motor Neurone Disease centre in Leeds". Leeds Rhinos. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  56. ^ "Rob Burrow MND Centre appeal passes £5m mark after Sinfield challenge". BBC News. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  57. ^ a b "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N16.
  58. ^ a b "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N9.
  59. ^ Daly, Phil (30 December 2020). "Burrow completes the 'Class of 2020' as 16th inductee to Leeds RL Hall of Fame".
  60. ^ Share, Immy (17 March 2021). "Leeds Rhinos' Rob Burrow MBE awarded honorary doctorate by Leeds Beckett University". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  61. ^ "Burrow and Sinfield given special awards at BBC SPOTY". totalrl.com. 21 December 2022.

External links[edit]

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