“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 aged just 41, his wife Lindsey is opening up about the moments when grief still catches her off guard — and the three children who give her a reason 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 familiar song playing in the car can suddenly bring back memories of her husband. Watching other fathers stand beside their children at football can remind her of the moments Rob should still be sharing with their son.
Rob, the much-loved former Leeds Rhinos rugby league star, died in June 2024 following his 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 the love they shared remains an inseparable part of their lives.
“NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE HIS PLACE”
In a recent interview, Lindsey spoke candidly about her love for Rob and whether she could ever imagine finding love again.
Her answer was heartfelt:
“Rob was the love of my life. No one will ever take his place.”
The couple had been together since their teenage years and were married for 17 years. Their relationship carried them through family milestones, Rob’s sporting career and the devastating challenges of his diagnosis.
Lindsey has spoken with gratitude about having Rob as her husband and the father of their children, even while acknowledging how painful it is to continue without him.
Moving forward, she has made clear, does not mean leaving Rob behind.
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.
For Lindsey, a song playing while she drives can suddenly bring the sadness rushing back.
Other moments are just as painful. Seeing 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 explained. “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.
The family talks about Rob every day and keeps 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 the children as a source of light during difficult days.
“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 efforts 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 and family values that defined him.
KEEPING THE PROMISE SHE MADE TO ROB
Lindsey remains 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, is part of that continuing legacy.
More than 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.
Sometimes, keeping a promise to someone you have lost means finding the courage to keep living, even on the days when missing them hurts the most.
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