Burrow bolstered by Weir talk after being diagnosed with MND

Rob Burrow, the legendary former Leeds Rhinos player, says he will draw inspiration from Doddie Weir’s fight with motor neurone disease after being diagnosed with the incurable, muscle-wasting condition.

Burrow, at 5ft 5in the smallest player in Super League history and one of its most successful with eight Grand Final wins, announced yesterday that he had MND.

He was told the news just over a week ago and Kevin Sinfield, the Leeds director of rugby, arranged for him to meet Weir in Carlisle on Wednesday – three days after Weir had been honoured with the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The Scottish rugby union great was diagnosed in 2016 and his charity, which seeks to aid research into the disease and improve the lives of those with MND, has since raised around £5million.

Burrow said: “How lucky am I to be able to meet somebody like Doddie who has just won an award and done a documentary on it? It’s really humbling, along with everybody saying they will do anything for me.”

Burrow, 37, initially thought medication for recent shoulder pain was causing him drowsiness and affecting his speech.

The former scrum-half, who has been on the Leeds coaching staff since retiring from playing in 2017, was given the all clear following an MRI scan.

He said: “I was sat in the waiting room drinking free coffee and expecting to celebrate. But on the nerve conduction test, three out of four came back positive for motor neurone.”

Burrow has taken the news in his stride, adding: “Apart from my voice and other bits and bats with my muscles, I feel absolutely normal. I am pretty keen to just get on with life. I’ll continue coaching to the best I can and pick the kids up from school.

“The average lifespan is three years, but I’m not going to give up. Unrealistic is 10 years; realistic I think is five years. “I’m fine with dying, it’s not being able to watch your kids grow up so if there’s ever an incentive to be around for a while, that’s it.” Like Weir and fellow MND sufferer Stephen Darby, the former footballer, Burrow will raise awareness of the disease through charity work. He said: “Awareness is massive and in 10 years’ time they might find a cure.”