Kevin Sinfield dodged autograph-hunter’s rugby deal with throughout ultra-marathon problem
As hero Kevin Sinfield puts his feet up after finishing his latest charity drive, a clip of the ex-Leeds Rhinos star using his skills to fend off the fan has gone viral
Kevin Sinfield is continuing to rest up after his latest ultra-marathon charity drive. However, an unseen clip where he had to fight off a fan who tried to rugby-tackle him for an autograph while he was running one of his fundraising ultra-marathons, has gone viral.
The woman dashed up to the People’s Knight with a pen hoping for a quick shirt-signing while he was stomping through the streets on his way to raising £1.35m to find a cure for motor neurone disease. Kevin, 45, used the fleet-footed skills he picked up from his career as a Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain rugby league player to expertly fend her off.
Footage of the clash — which happened in Cumbria on the fifth day of his challenge to run seven ultra-marathons in a week — has spread across the Internet. Rhinos’ head of media & PR Phil Daly said: “Kevin has done so much to raise the profile of MND over the last six years so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that people have really connected with this clip.
“What could have been a really stressful situation is immediately dissolved with a bit of humour,” Daly added. “Nothing stops Kevin from his drive to raise as much money and awareness for MND.
“The commentary from Martin Wolstencroft in our 7 in 7 team really makes it and sums up the unique nature of the team that Kevin has created.” The clip was filmed as part of an official documentary showing the challenge.
In it, Martin yells at the woman who runs out clutching a shirt she wants her hero to sign: “What you doing? What you doing? Calm down.”
As Kevin runs off she replies: “I tried.” Martin then jokes to him: “Hey Kev, you’ve took some big hits in your time pal.
“I reckon that’s the biggest hit you’ve ever took,” he shot at the rugby union superstar. “I can’t believe you didn’t get your elbow up.
“Go back to the van and get our gum shields out. It’s getting rough up here.
“We’ll have a review on that afterwards — find out how she got through that defensive line.” A Leeds Rhinos spokesman said: “Sinfield re-produced his fancy footwork from his playing days to avoid what could have been a nightmare accident had he suffered an injury with two days to go.”
Kevin’s most recent charity fundraiser saw him smash his £777,777 target by almost double that, raising over £1.4million for vital research into motor neuron disease. He is taking on the challenges in memory of his good pal and campaigner Rob Burrow, whose life was tragically cut short by the condition.
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