Kevin Sinfield knighthood petition nears landmark as Daily Star marketing campaign continues
The petition calling for a knighthood for rugby star and charity legend Kevin Sinfield is nearing a huge landmark as the Daily Star campaign continues to gain momentum
Nearly 100,000 people have joined the Daily Star in calling for charity marathon man Kevin Sinfield to get a knighthood.
The New Year’s Honours list is to be revealed next week, and legions of Brits think the so-called People’s Knight’s name should be on it.
Bookies say the rugby ace – who has just run seven ultra-marathons in seven days to raise £1.4m to find a cure for motor neurone disease – is a 3-1 shot to get a gong.
Before his near 200-mile trek across Britain and Ireland – the sixth successive year he has completed the gruelling challenge – the odds of him becoming ‘Sir Kev’ were 5-1.
Landing such an honour would normally have been against all odds for Kevin, 45, as it would require a rule change.
The marathon man got an OBE in 2021 for his services to rugby league and a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours List for his charity work and gong protocol suggests folk should wait three years before getting further accolades.
But the Daily Star believes his achievement in netting a total of £11m for the cause should be recognised now.
And 93,000 folk have signed an online petition agreeing.
Started by Leeds Rhinos fan Mel Handforth, 47, it calls on the Honours Committee and PM Keir Starmer to recognise Kevin’s selfless and relentless fundraising heroics.
If the number of signatures reaches 100,000 it could be debated in Parliament.
Darts ace Luke Littler, 18, has given the gong his backing after donating thousands of pounds of his winnings to the cause.
While TV presenter Piers Morgan, House of Commons’ speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lindsey Burrow – the widow of Kevin’s former Great Britain and Leeds Rhino team mate Rob who died last year aged 41 after a five-year battle against the disease – have also joined the campaign.
Mum-of-two Mel, from Garforth, Leeds, said it was ‘absolutely ludicrous’ that Kevin has ‘not been given the knighthood’.
“It is a ridiculous rule,” she said.
“He’s not doing this for recognition – he’s doing it because he cares about MND and honouring Rob.”
Kevin has even had Royal approval from the Prince of Wales who tweeted him his congratulations for completing his latest challenge.
The current England rugby union coach has vowed to run the ultra-marathons for a seventh time next year – to match the number on Rob’s shirt – raising even more cash.
Bookmaker William Hill said public momentum had caused Sinfield’s chances of getting the accolade to soar.
Spokesman Lee Phelps said: “Kevin Sinfield’s support of close friend Rob Burrow throughout his battle with Motor Neurone Disease and incredible fundraising efforts have led to many major names across sport, politics and entertainment calling for him to receive a knighthood.
“Convention says a knighthood doesn’t usually arrive within three years of a CBE.
“But the clamour is growing for his famous moniker of ‘Sir’ Kev to be made real.”
The bookmaker had pledged its own support after William Hill’s parent company evoke selected the Motor Neurone Disease Association as its chosen charity.
“We have seen the devastation this cruel disease causes to the victims and their families and we couldn’t be prouder of Kevin,” Lee said.
“There’s certainly a fair chance of Sinfield becoming a Sir, with the former Rugby League star 3/1 – the equivalent of a 25% chance – to appear on the King’s New Year Honours List.
Andy Bell, 49, chairman of Featherstone Lions Rugby Club in Wakefield where Burrow played as a youngster, called on the rule book to be re-written so Kevin can get his sir-hood.
He said Kevin ‘should have been knighted by now really’.
“What he has done is quite exceptional,” he said.
“I know that there is a rule that says he cannot be honoured within three years of his last honour.
“People don’t really know about that rule around here and he would be as good a reason as any to break that rule.
“The fans already call him Sir Kevin.”
Independent peer Lord John Mann has said: “Protocol should be overridden in this case, absolutely. The public acclamation demands it.”
