05 June 2024 , 14:07
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The Betfred Challenge Cup final will move from its traditional 3pm kick-off slot to pay tribute to Rob Burrow.
Saturday’s Wembley showdown between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors will start at 3.07pm as rugby league celebrates the life of the former Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain scrum-half who wore the No7 jersey with such courage and distinction. Following Burrow’s death at the age of 41 last Sunday, after a long battle with motor neurone disease, supporters will also be able to leave tributes at the Rugby League Statue outside Wembley Stadium from 9.45am on Saturday morning.
Organisers say this will offer the opportunity to fans of ‘all clubs to show their appreciation and admiration for his courage and humanity, as so many Leeds devotees have done already at AMT Headingley.’ RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones said: “Once the shock and sadness of Sunday night’s news had sunk in, we recognised the responsibility to provide a fitting celebration of a rugby league superhero.
“We are grateful to BBC Sport and Wembley Stadium for their support - and to all involved with the six clubs and two schools who will be playing at Wembley on Saturday. Challenge Cup Final day has a great tradition of the rugby league family coming together – this year, for reasons none would have chosen, we will be united in grief, but also in paying suitable tribute to a player who has transcended the sport.”
The Wembley crowd will also be invited to join in one minute’s applause after seven minutes of each of the four finals on the sport’s traditional showpiece occasion – starting with the inspiresport Champion Schools Final in the morning, followed by the second Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final to have been played at Wembley, which features Burrow’s beloved Leeds taking on holders St Helens.
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There will also be one minute’s silence before the women’s final and the men’s final that follows – in each case following Abide with Me, the hymn which has long been part of Challenge Cup final tradition, and which will be sung this year by Maxwell Thorpe and Katherine Jenkins OBE. As in 2020, when Burrow was the first Chief Guest in absentia for a Challenge Cup final the year after he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, rugby league will show its support for the MND Association which Burrow and his former Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield CBE have championed over recent years.
The statue of Rugby League legends Martin Offiah, Alex Murphy, Billy Boston, Eric Ashton and Gus Risman is at Wembley Stadium where fans are asked to leave tributes to the late Rob Burrow on Saturday (Paul Harding/PA Wire)Players and match officials in all four finals – concluding with the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final between Sheffield Eagles and Wakefield Trinity – will be involved in the latest demonstration of that support. Supporters are politely advised not to bring any form of flames (such as candles) to add to the tribute to Burrow CBE at the Rugby League Statue which is located on the East Level 2 Concourse and depicts five players who have made memorable contributions to the sport's history at Wembley: Eric Ashton, Billy Boston, Alex Murphy, Gus Risman and Martin Offiah.
All portable tributes will be relocated to the John Holmes Statue at Headingley – floral tributes will not be relocated.