There were moving scenes on Saturday as rugby league and union honoured Rob Burrow.
During the English Premiership final between Bath and Northampton at Twickenham, the 80,000 crowd rose as one to remember the late rugby league hero. Fans stood and applauded in the seventh minute of the match as a mark of respect for the legend who died after battling MND last weekend. Burrow were the number seven jersey during his distinguished career.
The gesture came as the rugby league Challenge Cup final between Wigan and Warrington at Wembley started seven minutes late in tribute, with supporters also holding a minute’s silence. Fans also applauded Burrow in the seventh minute of that match, while Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins performed a moving rendition of Abide with Me ahead of kick-off.
During Jenkins’ moving rendition of Abide with Me, fans displayed a large banner adorned with images of Burrow followed by a moment of silence. Both teams joined the arena in orange ‘Burrow 7’ t-shirts.
Jenkins’ voice and the accompanying scenes of tribute left many fans in the stadium and at home in tears.
Watch Katherine Jenkins’ Abide with Me
Watch Twickenham fans rise in tribute
Burrow’s fight against MND reached far beyond the sport, raising awareness and millions for charity. His former Leeds teammate Kevin Sinfield captured the nation’s heart by undertaking a series of gruelling marathons and challenges to combat the disease.
Jamie Peacock, writing for Mirror Sport and speaking to BBC Sport, reflected on the significance of the day: “It is [a poignant occasion] but it’s about celebrating the good that Rob brought, not only to the world of rugby league but to the world as a whole.”
Peacock added, “I think we’re going to have an incredibly fitting game for that as well. It’s about celebrating the great emotions of rugby league, and the great emotions and inspiration that Rob as an iconic player but also an iconic person brought to the world.”, reports the Mirror.
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Famed Aussie actor and celebrated rugby fan, Russell Crowe, took to social media urging supporters to pay tribute to the ‘little champion’ Burrow at the upcoming Wembley match. In his video message posted last Friday, Crowe sparked a conversation about the Challenge Cup Final: “I’d like to talk to you about the Challenge Cup final this weekend,”.
He continued: “It is Wigan versus Warrington, but more specifically I want to talk about the passing of the little champion Rob Burrow. At the weekend, at Wembley, when the finals are taking place, in the seventh minute there will be a minute of celebration of Rob’s life and contribution to this sport.”
“Beautifully, it won’t be a minutes silence it will be a minutes applause, which I think is fitting for the little champion. Personally I have some guilt to bear because I was supposed to do his podcast and it is one of those things I kept saying I’d get round to it and now I’ll have to deal with the fact I messed that up.”
“Anyway, if you love rugby league and you love what that little champion did in every jersey he played in – go to Wembley and celebrate his life, his career and celebrate the rugby league community.”