“ROB WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE HIS PLACE.” — LINDSEY BURROW’S HEARTBREAKING WORDS TWO YEARS AFTER LOSING HER HUSBAND
“ROB WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE HIS PLACE.” — LINDSEY BURROW’S HEARTBREAKING WORDS TWO YEARS AFTER LOSING HER HUSBAND
More than two years after rugby legend Rob Burrow died following his battle with motor neurone disease, his wife Lindsey is opening up about the moments when grief still catches her off guard — and the three children who give her the strength to keep moving forward.
For Lindsey Burrow, grief does not always arrive on anniversaries or special occasions. Sometimes, it comes in the middle of an ordinary day.
A song playing in the car can suddenly bring back memories of her husband. Watching other fathers standing beside their children at football can remind her of the moments Rob should still be sharing with their son.
Rob, the beloved former Leeds Rhinos rugby league star, died in June 2024 at the age of 41 after a battle with motor neurone disease (MND). His death left Lindsey and their three children — Macy, Maya and Jackson — facing a future they had never imagined.
Yet, despite the pain of losing the man she had loved since they were teenagers, Lindsey is determined to honour a promise she made to him: to keep living life to the full.
“NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE HIS PLACE”
In a recent interview with The Mirror, Lindsey spoke candidly about her love for Rob and whether she could ever imagine finding love again.
Her response was deeply personal.
“Rob was the love of my life. No one will ever take his place.”
The couple began dating as teenagers and were married for 17 years. Their relationship carried them through family milestones, Rob’s celebrated sporting career and the devastating challenges of his diagnosis.
For Lindsey, moving forward does not mean forgetting the man who shaped so much of her life. She remains grateful for the years they shared, even as she acknowledges how heartbreaking it is that their time together was cut short.
WHEN THE SMALLEST MOMENTS BRING THE GRIEF BACK
One of the hardest parts of losing someone you love is that everyday life continues — sometimes bringing memories you are not prepared for.
Lindsey explained that a song playing while she drives can suddenly bring the sadness rushing back.
Other moments can be just as painful. Seeing other fathers watching football with their children reminds her of the experiences Rob should still be sharing with Jackson.
“I made Rob a promise that we’d keep living life to the full,” she said. “And we’re doing that. But you have good and bad days. You can be driving, a song comes on that reminds you of Rob and the grief just hits you.”
Her words reflect a reality many grieving families recognise: learning to live again does not mean the loss stops hurting.
Some days bring happiness and new memories. Others bring a sudden reminder of the person who should still be there.
THREE CHILDREN KEEPING THEIR DAD’S MEMORY ALIVE
Through the hardest moments, Lindsey says their three children have given her strength beyond what they may realise.
Macy, Maya and Jackson continue to grow up without their father physically beside them, but his memory remains part of their everyday family life.
They talk about Rob regularly and look through memory jars filled with reminders of their time together. These small traditions allow the children to revisit happy moments, share stories and keep their dad close as they grow older.
Lindsey has described her children as a source of light during difficult days, saying they have helped her more than they will ever know.
“They’re the reason I wake up with a smile in the morning,” she said.
Their resilience has helped Lindsey find reasons to keep moving forward, while giving her a powerful motivation to create a happy and meaningful life for them.
A FATHER WHO WANTED TO MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT
Before his illness, Rob was celebrated for his achievements on the rugby field. But to Lindsey, his greatest role was being a husband and father.
She has recalled how he would hurry home from events because he wanted to spend time with the children. He treasured ordinary family moments, from playing football with Jackson to reading bedtime stories to the girls.
After being diagnosed with MND in December 2019, Rob continued raising awareness of the disease and trying to make precious memories with his family.
His openness helped bring national attention to a condition that affects movement, communication and independence. His legacy continues through the work to improve care and support for people living with MND.
For Lindsey, remembering Rob means far more than celebrating his achievements in sport. It means keeping alive the love, determination and family values that defined him.
KEEPING THE PROMISE SHE MADE TO ROB
Lindsey has remained committed to the promise she made to her husband: to keep living life to the fullest.
That does not mean pretending the pain has disappeared or forcing herself to be positive every day. It means allowing happiness and sadness to exist together, raising their children and finding ways to make new memories while continuing to honour the man they lost.
Her work supporting the MND community also carries forward a cause that mattered deeply to Rob. The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, which opened in 2025, stands as part of that continuing legacy.
Two years on, Lindsey is not leaving Rob behind. She is carrying his memory with her — in conversations with the children, in familiar songs and in the everyday moments when his absence is felt most strongly.
Rob Burrow’s legacy lives on not only through rugby and the fight against MND, but through the family who loved him and continues to speak his name.
For Lindsey and their children, life continues — but the love they have for Rob remains an irreplaceable part of their story.
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