Geoff Burrow, father of rugby legend Rob, dies after son's MND battle
The family of late British rugby league great Rob Burrow has been struck by a second tragedy inside two years with the passing of Geoff Burrow.
Rob was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2019 and lost his battle five years later in 2024; now, after a short illness, his father Geoff has died, Leeds Rhinos have announced.
Geoff was a "tireless campaigner" for the MCD community following his son's diagnosis and continued to work after Rob's passing.
"It is with deep sadness that the club has learned of the passing on Monday 30th March of Geoff Burrow, the father of Rob Burrow, after a period of ill health," a club statement reads.
"A devoted husband, father and a grandfather, Geoff brought Rob to his first ever game at Headingley and started his love of the Rhinos.
"Geoff was always a champion for those who did not have a voice throughout his career as a trade union representative.
"The club would like to pass on our deepest condolences to Geoff's wife Irene and the Burrow family at this sad time.
"We would like to ask that the family are given privacy at this time. May he rest in peace."
Rob played a whopping 492 games for the Rhinos over his decorated 17-year career, plus two representative games for Yorkshire, 13 for England and five for Great Britain.
Leeds CEO Jamie Jones-Buchanan, a former Rhinos player himself, paid tribute to Geoff's legacy.
"He loved rugby league. He loved what Rob did and he was part of the team, always will be," Jones-Buchanan said.
"He'll always be part of our history, our heritage."
As recently as last November, Burrow was there for the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds.
"This centre is not just for MND sufferers and their families, but for all the staff. The staff are marvellous, they're angels," Burrow said at the time.
Director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hopsital NHS Trust Craig Richardson said Burrow was instrumental in the creation of the MND centre named in his son's honour.
"We are really sorry to hear the news about Geoff Burrow,", Richardson said.
"Geoff played a huge role in the development of the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease.
"He came to every stakeholder and development meeting over the two years, and he championed all the work taking place to build the centre.
"He had so much energy and enthusiasm to help create a legacy for Rob and support the MND community."
