Sir Kevin Sinfield says seeing him knighted would have had late pal Rob Burrow ‘laughing’

The rugby star who has raised £12m to combat motor neurone disease says Rob would have found it funny seeing him go through the sword-on-the-shoulder ceremony but would have been ‘enormously proud’

Sir Kevin Sinfield said his late pal Rob Burrow would be ‘laughing’ to see him getting a knighthood. The rugby ace – whose seven years of marathon running has raised more than £12m to help find a cure for motor neurone disease – said his mate would have found it funny to see him going through the sword-on-the-shoulder ceremony.

But he said Rob would have been ‘enormously proud’. Sir Kev was among 60 people to receive honours from the Prince of Wales at a Windsor Castle ceremony.

Sinfield has just finished his seventh seven-marathons-in-seven-days challenge – inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team mate Rob who was diagnosed with degenerative nerve condition in 2019.

Kev famously carried his pal over the Leeds Marathon finishing line in 2023 after pushing him in a specially-adapted wheelchair round the 26.2 mile course. Rob died the following year aged 41.

But Kev has kept on running clocking up 84 marathons – many of them longer ‘ultra’ versions – to help the UK’s 8,000 sufferers.

He received a knighthood for his services to the motor neurone disease community and rugby after the Daily Star ran a high profile ‘give-him-a-gong’ campaign.

Sir Kevin, 46, said he was ‘massively humbled by the whole experience’ and ‘very proud to accept it on behalf of the MND community and their families’.

The England rugby union coach said William – who had presented him and Rob with CBEs at Headingley Stadium in Leeds in 2024 – had been ‘fantastically supportive’ of their fundraising campaign.

“I think he champions pulling communities together and I have seen how the MND community have come together on the back of Rob’s diagnosis and several other high-profile sportspeople over the last six or seven years,” Kev said.

“So his support and, obviously, Princess Catherine’s as well, they’ve been wonderful and bring a real credibility to what we’re trying to do.”

Asked how Rob would have felt to see him receiving a knighthood said: “I think he’d be laughing.

“I think he’d be enormously proud of the support behind a campaign that he started, and we continue in his name.

“I think he’d be really proud of it, the support, and the way people got behind what we tried to do, especially Prince William and Princess Catherine, and several other high-profile figures across the UK, and the world.

“On behalf of all the MND families, Rob would just be delighted at how we’ve pulled together.”

Sir Kev was surprised by the Prince and Princess of Wales when they turned up to greet him during his latest challenge last week.

Wills turned down the chance to join him on his trek saying he ‘can’t do Lycra’.

The new knight completed his seventh marathon by running onto the Old Trafford pitch with the trophy ahead of the Super League Grand Final last weekend – then watched son Jack help Wakefield lift it after victory over Warrington.

Sir Kev said his latest challenge – which is expected to raise double his £777,777 target – will be his seventh and last having matched the number Rob used to wear on his shirt.

He is now planning a run in Australia and New Zealand next year to help global sufferers and their families.

Kev said the reaction from the MND community to his knighthood had been ‘wonderful’.

“I felt very fortunate to have connected with a lot of families who are going through some real challenging times, yet still continue to be at the roadside or stopping me in the street for a chat to share their story,” he said.

“So I feel incredibly fortunate to be here today accepting this on their behalf.”

But he admitted he had not got used to the title ‘Sir Kevin’ yet, adding: “I don’t think I ever will.

“It’s really nice but every time I hear that I go straight back to why we started. And it was a run for a mate with some mates and that’ll never change.”

Other sports stars to receive honours at the ceremony included retired Brit triathlete Alistair Brownlee who was made an OBE for services to triathlon and charity.

The only athlete to have won two individual Olympic gold medals in triathlon, Brownlee is chef de mission for Team GB at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which starts in Senegal at the end of the month.

He also founded the Brownlee Foundation with his brother Jonny – a charity which aims to inspire children from all backgrounds to enjoy sport.

Brownlee said it was ‘very special’ to be at the ceremony.

“Doing sport was quite literally a childhood dream for me and it was amazing,” he said.

“But I’ve really enjoyed being retired – enjoyed being able to do sport for fun at a slightly slower pace.”

England footballer Michelle Agyemang said it was ‘incredible’ to be made an MBE.

The 20-year-old star was named young player of the tournament as she helped the Lionesses win Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

Michelle, who has been out of action with a ruptured cruciate ligament, said she was ‘getting very close to returning now’.

The Arsenal striker, who was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, has been balancing working hard in the gym for her recovery with her university studies.