Kevin Sinfield carries friend Rob Burrow over finish line of Leeds marathon

Rugby league legend, Kevin Sinfield carried his friend and former teammate Rob Burrow over the finish line of the Leeds marathon in a moving moment.

Sinfield stopped just before the finish line of the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon at Headingley Stadium, to carry his friend over the line in a touching and memorable moment.

The event — named after former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 — saw around 12,500 people take part.

It was inspired by Sinfield, who pushed his former teammate around the course in a specially-adapted wheelchair.

He lifted his friend up for the last few steps to finish the race together in an emotional scene while crowds of spectators cheered them on.

Sinfield then gave Burrow a kiss of affection after the pair joined thousands of other runners in crossing the line of Leeds’ first marathon in 20 years.

People turned out to line the 26.2-mile (42.2km) course — which started and ended at the stadium — to support them.

The marathon was set up to raise funds for The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal and the Leeds Hospitals Charity, as well as a host of other causes.

“The support for the MND community through the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon has been fantastic,” said Sinfield — who has himself set numerous fundraising running challenges in support of his friend.

Ahead of the race, Sinfield thanked all those involved for ‘creating something so incredible in Rob’s name’. He added: “Today is a celebration of friendship.”

A former rugby league player and current coach for England, Sinfield has raised more than £8m for MND charities, including an Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge in November when he ran seven back-to-back ultra-marathons.

In late 2020, Sinfield ran seven marathons in seven days and in 2021 he completed a run of 101 miles in 24 hours.

Run For All announced last month The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon would return in 2024 after an ‘overwhelming’ number of people entered this year’s race.

Burrow, 40, spent his entire professional career with the Leeds Rhinos and also represented England and Great Britain on the national stage.

He was known as a prolific scorer, and nicknamed by commentators ‘Little Rob Burrow’ because of his height, just 5ft 5in.

Speaking in 2020 shortly after his diagnosis was announced, Burrow said that he ‘doesn’t want people feeling sorry for me’.

Adding: “I’m not putting my head down and sulking, I’m just keeping positive and getting on with it.”

MND is a degenerative illness that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The majority of those diagnosed with the condition die within three years of detecting symptoms.