Russell Crowe has paid tribute to Rob Burrow ahead of the Challenge Cup final, which will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The conclusion to the rugby league season is being made under the shadow of the death of the former Leeds Rhinos and England player.
Burrow died last Sunday, aged 42, having been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 and subsequently raised awareness and thousands of pounds for charity.
The final between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves will be played at 3.07pm - the start time having been put back from 3pm to mark the number seven Burrow wore.
There will also be a minute's silence before kick-off and with a minute's applause during the seventh minute of the game.
New Zealand actor Crowe is a big rugby fan and recorded his message to Burrow on Thursday from Sydney Harbour.
“It’s the Challenge Cup final, it’s Wigan and it’s Warrington,” he said.
“But more specifically, I want to talk about the passing of the little champion Rob Burrow this week.
“There’s going to be a minute of celebration of Rob’s life and his contribution to the sport.
“Beautifully, it’s not going to be a minute of silence, it’s going to be a minute of applause and I think that’s fitting for the little champion.”
Crowe has been the co-owner of rugby league team South Sydney Rabbitohs since 2006 and has narrated a video to explain the rules of the game.
He has been promoting his ‘Indoor Garden Party’ series of concert events and said in the video that he had been due to record a podcast involving Burrow.
“I have some guilt to bear,” he said. “I kept saying I would get around to it but I am going to have to deal with the fact that I messed that up.”
He added: “If you love rugby league and you love what that little champion did in every single jersey he ever played in, go to Wembley.
“Go to Wembley and celebrate his life.”
