The Challenge Cup final on Saturday will be moved from its traditional timeslot of 3pm and kick off seven minutes later as part of the extensive tributes planned by both rugby codes to celebrate the life of Rob Burrow this weekend.
Burrow died at the weekend at the age of 41, four and a half years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. His death has caused an outpouring of grief both within rugby league and beyond, and the Rugby Football League has confirmed there will be a series of tributes before and during the men’s final between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves on Saturday.
That will include a rare move away from the final’s historic 3pm kick-off time, with the game to begin instead at 3.07pm to honour Burrow’s rugby league legacy. He wore the No 7 shirt during a glittering playing career with Leeds Rhinos, in which he won every domestic trophy available and made almost 400 appearances for the Super League club.
“Once the shock and sadness of Sunday night’s news had sunk in, we recognised the responsibility to provide a fitting celebration of a rugby league superhero,” the chief executive of RL Commercial, Rhodri Jones, said.
“Challenge Cup final day has a great tradition of the rugby league family coming together – this year, for reasons none would have chosen, we will be united in grief, but also in paying suitable tribute to a player who has transcended the sport.”
Headingley Stadium, where Burrow made his name as a player, has been open for fans to lay tributes since the news of Burrow’s death emerged on Sunday.
The RFL has also confirmed supporters attending Wembley this weekend will also be able to lay their tributes at the rugby league statue outside the stadium from 9.45am on Saturday. They will then be relocated to Headingley after the final.
Each of the four games on finals day will feature a minute’s applause in the seventh minute, while there will also be a minute’s silence before both the men’s and women’s Challenge Cup finals – with players and officials also to show a demonstration of support for the MND Association.
The Premiership final between Northampton and Bath at Twickenham on Saturday will also feature a minute’s applause in the seventh minute to celebrate the life of Burrow who, alongside his close friend Kevin Sinfield, helped to raise almost £20m in fundraising for people living with MND since Burrow was diagnosed with the condition in December 2019.
