Rob Burrow funeral plans confirmed

Rob Burrow raised millions to help those living with motor neurone disease (MND)

The funeral of rugby league legend and motor neurone disease campaigner (MND) Rob Burrow will take place on Sunday 7 July.

Former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow died earlier this month at the age of 41, having spent his final years avidly raising awareness about the degenerative condition.

Alongside former team-mate Kevin Sinfield, Burrow raised millions for research and to help others living with the illness, after he was diagnosed in 2019.

Leeds Rhinos and the Burrow family said the date had been fixed to coincide with Rob Burrow Day, which is marked on 7 July in honour of his number 7 shirt.

The family asked that, in lieu of flowers, members of the public could donate to the Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND

The statement said Burrow's funeral would take place at Pontefract Crematorium and this would be a private service for "invited guests only".

However, members of the public are invited to line the route of Burrow's final journey, to pay their respects as the funeral cortege makes its way to the crematorium.

Cortege route

Members of the public are asked to be in position from 13:00 BST on the day.

The cortege will travel along the A656 (Park Road) passing the Xscape leisure complex as it travels towards the M62 junction.

The cars will continue along the A639 towards Pontefract, passing the racecourse, before turning onto Park Lane (B6134) near Pontefract Tanshelf Station.

The procession will continue along Ackton Lane into Ackton, before turning left onto Sewerbridge Lane and Common Side Lane (B6133) heading towards Featherstone.

At the War Horse sculpture the cars will turn left, slowing for a moment at Featherstone Lions ARLFC’s ground on Wakefield Road (A645).

The cortege will slow again as it passes through Featherstone and near to where Burrow played junior rugby. The cars will then continue along Pontefract Lane towards the crematorium.

At that point members of the public are asked to "leave this part of the journey so the Burrow family can have a few moments to themselves before arriving at the crematorium".

Alongside close friend and former team-mate Kevin Sinfield, Burrow helped raise widespread awareness of MND

Rhinos said it had published the route to give the public the chance to "pay their respects before allowing Rob's family and friends to grieve his loss in private".

The service will not be live streamed.

Rhinos said that Burrow's family had "politely requested" members of the public did not send flowers, but said they could make a donation to the Rob Burrow Fund or the Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND.

Leeds City Council and the Lord Mayor of Leeds will host a civic reception in honour of Burrow on Friday 12 July at 11am, which will be live streamed.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]