Rob Burrow: Leeds fan Russell Crowe issues tribute to 'little champion' and reveals missed opportunity
Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has paid tribute to “little champion” Rob Burrow and admitted he “messed up” before the Leeds Rhinos icon’s death.
Crowe is co-owner of Australian NRL club South Sydney Rabbitohs and a lifelong rugby league fan. He was present when Rhinos beat Souths in a pre-season game in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2008.
In a post on social media site X/Twitter, Crowe urged fans in England to pay their respects to Burrow at Wembley this weekend, but revealed his regret at not appearing on a podcast presented by the former scrum-half. “Personally, I have some guilt to bear because I was supposed to do his podcast,” Crowe revealed
“It is one of those things, I kept saying to myself ‘I’ll get around to it, I’ll get around to it’ and now I am going to have to deal with the fact I messed that up.”
Burrow died last Sunday, four and a half years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. His life will be celebrated during Betfred Challenge Cup and 1895 Cup finals day at Wembley this weekend, with a minute’s applause in the seventh minute of each match.
“Beautifully, it’s not going to be a minute’s silence, it’s going to be a minute of applause and I think that’s befitting the little champion,” Crowe - who received a Best Actor Oscar for Gladiator in 2000 - added. “If you love rugby league and you loved what that little champion did in every single jersey he played in, go to Wembley and celebrate his life and his career and the rugby league community.”