Rob Burrow, the Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain rugby league great, has died after a four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone disease as his friend Kevin Sinfield paid an emotional tribute to his ‘little mate’.

Burrow, who became a prominent MND campaigner following his diagnosis, died at the age of 41, it was announced on Sunday.

Burrow’s friend and co-campaigner Sinfield in a statement released via the RFU: “Today was the day that I hoped would never come. The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so so many. You fought so bravely until the end and became a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only for the MND community but for all those who saw and heard your story.”

Sending his “love and thoughts” to Burrow’s family, Sinfield added: “You will continue to inspire me every single day. I have lost a dear friend and I will never forget the special times we shared both on and off the pitch. I would always say that you were pound for pound the toughest player I ever played alongside, however since your diagnosis, you were the toughest and bravest man I have ever met.

“The last four-and-a-half years you showed the world what living and loving looked like and this was always done with the biggest smile on your face. I will miss you my little mate.”

The Prince of Wales, who this year surprised Burrow by travelling to Leeds and handing him a CBE alongside his wife Lindsey and their three children, led heartfelt tributes to the 41-year-old, who became a prominent MND campaigner following his diagnosis.

Prince William, who this year surprised Burrow by travelling to Leeds and handing him a CBE alongside his wife Lindsey and their three children, led heartfelt tributes. He described Burrow as a “legend of Rugby League” who had a “huge heart”, adding: “He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream’.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also joined tributes, saying Burrow “leaves behind an amazing legacy and my thoughts are with his friends and family.”

Burrow’s friend and co-campaigner Kevin Sinfield said later in a statement released via the RFU: “Today was the day that I hoped would never come. The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so so many. You fought so bravely until the end and became a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only for the MND community but for all those who saw and heard your story.”

Sending his “love and thoughts” to Burrow’s family, Sinfield added: “You will continue to inspire me every single day. I have lost a dear friend and I will never forget the special times we shared both on and off the pitch. I would always say that you were pound for pound the toughest player I ever played alongside, however since your diagnosis, you were the toughest and bravest man I have ever met.

“The last four-and-a-half years you showed the world what living and loving looked like and this was always done with the biggest smile on your face. I will miss you my little mate.”

As a player, Burrow, who spent his entire career with Leeds Rhinos, won eight Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups.

However, Burrow had captured hearts over his MND awareness work while he was confined to a wheelchair and able to speak only with the aid of voice technology.

After being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019, just two years after retiring from rugby, the MND Association said Burrow “used every opportunity to raise awareness of the disease”.

Last year, at the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, his great friend and former captain Sinfield pushed Burrow around the entire 26.2 miles circuit before lifting him out of a specially adapted wheelchair and the pair completed the course together in an emotional conclusion at Headingley Stadium.

In January, Prince William surprised Burrow and Sinfield by making them CBEs during a visit to the stadium, and paid tribute to the pair’s “inspirational” efforts in raising awareness of the disease and £14 million for the MND community.

Burrow was also awarded the 2022 Helen Rollason Award at BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year ceremony for his relentless charity efforts.

Before being made a CBE, Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours for his contribution to rugby league and for raising awareness of MND.

Announcing his death on behalf of his family, Leeds Rhinos said he was “a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND”.

Burrow, who more than 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017 “will continue to inspire us all every day”, Leeds said.

A statement issued by Leeds on behalf of Burrow’s family read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved son, husband, father, brother and friend.

“Rob has always been a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND. He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.

“The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four and a half years meant so much to Rob.

“In particular, the rugby league family and MND community have rallied around Rob to inspire him, thank you for your support. For those who knew Rob throughout his life, his determination and spirit in the face of MND over the last four and a half years came as no surprise. Rob never accepted that he couldn’t do something. He just found his way of doing it better than anyone else. He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity. We must dare to dream.”

Burrow, a patron of the MND Association, helped raise millions to build a new care centre for motor neurone disease patients alongside former teammate Sinfield.

Leeds Hospitals Charity said Burrow “bravely shared his personal story with us all” and “showed us how to live life to the fullest in the face of adversity”.

It added that it had raised £5.8 million to build a specialist centre for people living with motor neurone disease and their families “thanks to Rob’s dedication and support”.

The MND Association said: “It is testament to the strength of feeling people have for Rob that the support in his name has never wavered. The MND Association is incredibly grateful to Rob and his family for helping to raise awareness of MND, and funds for the association, by sharing the details of their journey and by inspiring so many people both within the MND community and the wider public.”

In February, it was announced that the player of the match award at this year’s Super League Grand Final would be renamed after Burrow, the first player to win the trophy twice, in 2007 and 2011.

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