Rob Burrow’s stance on legal action against the Rugby Football League, revealed by dad Geoff
. 21/09/2021. London, United Kingdom. MND Letter Delivered to No10. An open letter signed by hundreds of people with motor neurone disease MND is handed in to Downing Street. The letter urges the government to inject 50m into targeted research over five years. Among those delivering the letter to Number 10 are former assistant chief constable Chris Johnson, ex rugby players Rob Burrow and former Liverpool footballer Stephen Darby. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY xMartynxWheatleyx/xi-Imagesx IIM-22599-0001
It’s been announced by his father, Geoff, that Rob Burrow won’t join the legal case against the Rugby Football League.
It was revealed in October that Rylands Legal was representing 75 former rugby league players, including former St Helens captain Bobbie Goulding, in a negligence suit against the RFL.
The allegations brought against the game’s governing body claim they failed in their duty of care to protect them from the risks associated with concussions during their playing days – leading to increased chances of dementia and alzheimer’s later in life.
The legal company, Rylands Legal, is also representing 175 former rugby union players in a separate concussion lawsuit.
Burrow, 40, announced in December 2019 that he was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease just two years after his retirement.
MND is an incurable illness that limits voluntary muscle movement and recently sadly cut short the life of former Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir.
Weir set up an MND awareness charity and has campaigned with Burrow and other sportsmen, who seem to be affected at a disproportionate rate.
There have been theories that the repetitive and concussive strain on the body and in particular the head can be a cause, yet so little is known about MND that this can’t be stated as factual.
The legal claim against The RFL states they failed to take “reasonable action” in order to ensure player safety when it comes to neurological conditions, but Geoff revealed his son wants no part of it.
“Rob has been asked if he wants to, but he has never wanted to,” Geoff, who is the sports secretary for the GMB union, told The Times.
“He’s adamant that (due to) the career he’s had through hard work and the skills he’s been given, he’s reaped the benefits and he wouldn’t change a thing.”
Burrow had previously spoken with Sky Sports about potential links between the disease and his playing career, but he refuted those suggestions.
“There is no evidence that anything causes MND. I think I was so unlucky that I got the disease,” Burrow stated.
“The positives outweigh the negatives. I would not be the person I am today without the experience I got from playing rugby league, the friendships and bonds and life experiences, travelling the world.”
Due to the lack of funding for MND, Burrow’s best friend and former team-mate, Kevin Sinfield, has been raising money and awareness and because of his efforts, and the generosity of those who donated, the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease started early stages of development last week.