Rob Burrow

Robert Geoffrey Burrow (born 26 September 1982) is an English former professional rugby league footballer, who spent 16 years playing for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, before retiring in 2017. An England and Great Britain representative, he spent his entire professional career with Leeds. At 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) 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, having won a total of 8 Super League championships, two Challenge Cups, been named to the Super League Dream Team on three occasions and won the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice.[5][6][7][8][9] On Thursday 19th December 2019 it was publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).[10]

Rob Burrow

Personal information
Full name	Robert Geoffrey Burrow[1][2]
Born	(1982-09-26) 26 September 1982 Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height	5 ft 5 in (165 cm)[3]
Weight	10 st 3 lb (65 kg)[4]
Position	Scrum-half, Hooker
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2001–17 Leeds Rhinos 493 198 157 5 1111 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2003–13 England 15 12 12 0 72 2005–07 Great Britain 5 4 9 0 34 Yorkshire
Source: [5][6][7][8][9]

Playing career

2000s

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. Burrow played for Leeds in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final at scrum half back in their loss against Hull FC.[11] 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.

In June 2007 he was called up to the Great Britain squad for the Test match against France.[12] 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 team mates Scott Donald, Jamie Peacock and Gareth Ellis. Burrow 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 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.[13]

He was named in the Super League Dream Team for 2008's Super League XIII season.[14] He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens.[15]

Burrow was selected for the England squad to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup tournament in Australia.[16] Group A's first match against Papua New Guinea he played at scrum half back in England's victory.

He played in the 2009 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]

2010s

He played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.[29][30]

Burrow played from the interchange bench for Leeds in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Wembley Stadium.[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]

He played in the 2011 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.[46][47] Burrow became the first player to win the Harry Sunderland Award twice by winning the unanimous votes of all 37 judges after his impact in 2011's Super League XVI Grand Final.

He was not selected for England's post-season 2011 Four Nations campaign due to a rib injury.[48]

He played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.[49][50][51][52]

He played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.[53][50]

Burrow played in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Castleford Tigers at Wembley Stadium.[54]

He played in the 2015 Challenge Cup Final victory over Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley Stadium.[55][56][57]

He played in the 2015 Super League Grand Final victory over the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.[58]

Rob Burrow announced his retirement in 2017.[59] His last match was the 2017 Super League Grand Final in which he helped his club, Leeds to victory over the Castleford Tigers at Old Trafford.[60][61][62]

Honours

Club

• Super League (8): 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017
• Challenge Cup (2): 2014, 2015
• World Club Challenge (3): 2005, 2008, 2012
• League Leader's Shield (3): 2004, 2009, 2015

Individual

• Harry Sunderland Trophy: 2007, 2011

References

1. "Robert Geoffrey Burrow". Companies House. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
2. "Burrow Signs New Two Year Deal With Rhinos". Leeds Rhinos. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
3. Davidson, John. "Leeds Rhinos Hero Rob Burrow Bows Out A Champion". thesportsman.com. The Sportsman Communications Ltd. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
4. "Leeds Rhinos Players & Coaches 1st Team". web page. Leeds Rhinos. 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
5. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
6. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
7. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
8. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
9. "Profile at therhinos.co.uk". therhinos.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
10. "Rob Burrow: Leeds Rhinos legend diagnosed with motor neurone disease". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
11. "Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup". BBC News. 27 August 2005. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
12. "Eight new faces in Lions squad". BBC. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
13. Burke, David (12 November 2007). "Rob Burrow walks tall for Great Britain". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
14. "2008 engage Super League Dream Team". Super League. 15 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
15. "2008 Grand Final". BBC. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
16. "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
17. "Rhinos Take Super League Title". Sky News. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
18. Burke, David (11 October 2009). "Smith's Crisp". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
19. AFP (11 October 2009). "Leeds makes it Super League hat-trick". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
20. AAP (11 October 2009). "Leeds claim third successive Grand Final". nrl.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
21. Linfoot, Ben (10 October 2009). "Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos 18 St Helens 10". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
22. Correspondent (12 October 2009). "Potter refuses to blame video ref". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
23. Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
24. "Third time unlucky as Saints fail to halt Rhinos' charge to title". Liverpool Daily Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
25. "Sinfield hails winning culture". The Daily Mirror. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
26. Stewart, Rob (12 October 2009). "Lee Smith targets place in England rugby union team after Grand Final victory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
27. "Sinfield hails historic title win". BBC Sport. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
28. "Leeds Rhinos fans in homecoming welcome". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
29. Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
30. 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.
31. "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
32. Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Wigan's Challenge Cup win a team effort - Joel Tomkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
33. skysports.com (27 August 2011). "Maguire salutes Wembley heroes". Sky Sports. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
34. ESPN staff (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup glory for Wigan Warriors". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
35. wiganwarriors.com (28 August 2011). "Wigan are 2011 Cup Champions". rleague.com. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
36. Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
37. Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
38. therfl.co.uk (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup: Lima inspires Wigan win". rleague.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
39. Brown, Oliver (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 18 Wigan Warriors 28". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
40. Chisnall, Craig (28 August 2011). "Lima double inspires Wigan to Cup win". Wide World of Sports. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
41. Henson, Mike (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
42. Brown, Oliver (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final 2011: Wigan's warrior spirit shades controversy in emphatic win over Leeds Rhinos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
43. Press Association (27 August 2011). "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". Free Press. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
44. "O'Loughlin savours special cup win". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
45. bbc.co.uk (30 August 2011). "Wigan's Sam Tomkins punished for gesture at Leeds fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
46. "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
47. "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
48. "Ablett named in England squad". Sky Sports. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
49. "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". Guardian UK. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
50. "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
51. "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
52. "Warrington Wolves Are Challenge Cup Winners 2012!". Warrington Wolves Official Site. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
53. "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
54. "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
55. "Leeds emphatically shut out Hull KR to lift Challenge Cup". Guardian. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
56. "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (2982). 31 August 2015. p. 31.
57. "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 0-50 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
58. "Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final". Guardian. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
59. "Leeds Rhinos: Retiring playmaker Burrow opts for fresh challenge with the Rhinos". Yorkshire Evening Post. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
60. "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
61. "Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
62. "Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.

External links

• (archived by web.archive.org) Leeds Rhinos profile