The Prince and Princess of Wales praised a generation of Leeds Rhinos players who looked up to Rob Burrow during a visit to the club where he spent his entire career.
William and Kate met Burrow’s former team-mates Danny McGuire and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, and heard about the close bond in the Leeds Rhinos dressing room.
William said the bond had the right ingredients because every player brought something that made the group stronger.
Tributes to Rob Burrow
Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease barely two years after ending his playing career. He went on to campaign to raise awareness of the condition and help raise funds to find a cure.
McGuire said Burrow was small but brave, adding that the players followed him and were inspired by him. Jones-Buchanan, the Leeds Rhinos chief executive officer, told the royal couple that Burrow made up for what he lacked in size with his voice and was a comic in the dressing room.
William also mentioned that Burrow stood just 5ft 5ins tall.
Kevin Sinfield’s fundraising challenge
The visit also featured a tribute to Sir Kevin Sinfield, who was knighted in the summer for services to rugby league and the motor neurone disease community.
Sinfield was inspired by Burrow and has raised more than £10 million for motor neurone disease charities. Since Burrow’s death in 2024, he has completed a series of demanding fundraising challenges and is midway through a final effort involving seven ultramarathons in seven days.
William joked that it would be amazing if Sinfield could walk by the end of the challenge.
The Prince and Princess of Wales later made a surprise visit to the Leeds fundraiser at the end of Sinfield’s third marathon, telling him that his actions were inspiring.
Women’s rugby at Leeds Rhinos
During the visit, under-19 female Leeds Rhinos players were being drilled in ball-handling skills, while children from Lawns Park primary school in Leeds took part in rugby-based activities.
The royal couple also chatted to Keara Bennett, one of five Leeds Rhinos players named in the England squad for the women’s World Cup beginning next month.
Kate told Bennett that it was nice to see so many girls playing rugby.
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Source: Evening Standard
