Rob Burrow: 5 possible ways Leeds Rhinos could permanently honour iconic star

Fans, clubs and players from across rugby league have laid tributes to the eight-time Grand Final winner who was just 41 when he lost his battle with motor neurone disease. The stadium is open from 7am-midnight until Sunday and Burrow’s life will be celebrated during Cup finals day at Wembley on Saturday.

A permanent memorial to the eight-time Grand Final winner is now being considered. Here are five potential ways the club could honour one of its best-loved sons.

1: A statue.

In 2021 Rhinos revealed plans for a statue at Headingley to honour both Burrow and his former captain and fellow charity fundraiser Kevin Sinfield. The cost of sculpture is estimated at £100,000 and work has yet to get underway, but now would be a good time to revive that.

2: Retire the number 7 jersey.

Rob Burrow is synonymous with the number seven and one way to commemorate him could be by ‘retiring’ the shirt, so nobody else will ever wear it for Rhinos. This is controversial for a number of reasons. Richie Myler, Luke Gale, Aidan Sezer and Matt Frawley have all been awarded the number 17 shirt since Burrow retired in 2017 and critics of the suggestion believe the number seven jersey should be something for young players and new signings to aspire to.

3: Rename a stand.

Rhinos haven’t commemorated a past player in such a way before, but it would be fitting if AMT Headingley’s famous South Stand was named after Burrow.

4: Rename the training ground.

Leeds’ rugby operation is based at Clarence Fields in Kirkstall and is where all the club’s teams train. It currently has a naming rights sponsor, but could become the Bartercard Rob Burrow Leeds Rhinos training complex.

5: Support for the community game.

Rhinos could offer a Rob Burrow bursary, covering expenses for a promising player from a local community club to join their scholarship or academy. Burrow came through Leeds’ youth ranks and coached the club’s youngest players before his illness. Still in the community game, if the RFL-owned pitch at Buslingthorpe Vale, in Leeds, was redeveloped it could become the Rob Burrow Memorial Ground.