Too Many Reasons to Live

Occasionally in life you come across a person who is talented yet humble, brave but not foolish, iconic and unaware of his own impact. Rob Burrow [was] such a man – a pocket rocket of a player and a giant of a character. It has been a privilege to watch him play and to know him off the pitch. He [was] one in a million and his story is truly inspirational – Clare BaldingRob might say that I inspired him, but he inspired me. He’s just phenomenal – Doddie WeirAlthough [Rob] was the smallest on the field, he epitomized what the sport was all about: being fast, strong, skilful and entertainingthing … One thing is for sure, Rob is a mentally tough individual who won’t give up without a fight. A loving family man, an incredible athlete and a great role model for anybody out there. Legend – Wayne RooneyRob is a true warrior and hero to many but also a genuine and kind man who’d do anything for anybody. I’ve known him a long time, from idolizing him when I was a boy to meeting him and later being able to call him a friend. It will be the honour of my life to read Rob’s words and to voice his extraordinary story – Matthew Lewis, actor

Rob Burrow is a former professional rugby league footballer who spent sixteen years playing for 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 five foot five, and weighing less than eleven stone, 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, winning a total of eight Super League championships and two Challenge Cups, being named on the Super League Dream Team on three occasions, and winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice.

On 19 December 2019 it was publicly revealed Burrow had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). The BBC followed Rob for a year for their documentary My Year with MND. It was watched by over two million people. His autobiography Too Many Reasons to Live was a Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller. Together with Kevin Sinfield, he has written an illustrated gift book, With You Every Step: A Celebration of Friendship.