Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield is expected to be knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours after raising more than £11million for motor neurone disease (MND) charities in memory of his late friend and former Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow.
Legendary rugby star and inspiring fundraiser Kevin Sinfield is finally set to receive a knighthood, after years of calls for him to be given the prestigious title. The 45-year-old is anticipated to be honoured in the next round of the King’s Birthday Honours list following his remarkable fundraising achievements in tribute to his late mate and teammate Rob Burrow.
Pressure has been building for the humble star to be knighted, having raised over £11million for motor neurone disease (MND) charities since Rob was diagnosed with the cruel muscle-wasting illness in 2019. Earlier this week, Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle branded him “a rugby league legend who should be Sir Kevin Sinfield”.
The former Leeds and England rugby league stars touched the hearts of the nation through their bond, with Kevin memorably carrying Rob across the finishing line at the Leeds Marathon in 2023 after wheeling him around the course in a specially modified wheelchair, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
Both men were awarded CBEs in the 2023 New Year Honours List, with Prince William surprising them with their gongs at Headingley Stadium – the ground where Leeds Rhinos play and both men starred. Rob sadly passed away five months afterwards aged 41, having battled MND for four and half years.
MND is a life-limiting neurological illness that affects the nerves transmitting signals from the brain to the muscles. There is presently no cure and treatment concentrates on controlling symptoms.
While there’s no scientific evidence linking MND to head injuries, Rob wasn’t the only rugby player diagnosed with MND. Doddie Weir, a former Scotland international, passed away in 2022 at the age of 52, six years after his diagnosis.
Additionally, ex-England captain Lewis Moody disclosed his own diagnosis last year. Kevin, who now coaches England’s rugby union team, has since raised millions of pounds in honour of his best mate through a series of gruelling endurance challenges.
Last year saw the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, the first-ever purpose-built facility dedicated to assisting MND patients and conducting crucial research.
Accompanied by Kevin and Rob’s widow Lindsey, Prince William told the rugby star’s children Macy, Maya, and Jackson that they should be “so proud of your father because he really was an incredibly brave and very special man”.
He further commented: “This is a world-leading centre that’s going to save a lot of lives.”
Kevin has recently unveiled his seventh and final challenge, which involves running an ultramarathon daily for seven days. Dubbed “7 in 7: The Grand Finale”, he will run from Hull to Manchester, stopping at all 12 English Super League grounds.
Each day, he’ll run a mile alongside individuals affected by this neurodegenerative disease.
Discussing his efforts on BBC Breakfast, he stated: “Our team have done a wonderful job. I couldn’t have done any of it without them, they are so unselfish in the way they’ve gone about this.
“We couldn’t have done this on our own. The money has gone a long way and we’re getting closer and closer, but we’ve got to keep pushing, we’ve got to try and find a cure.”
The King’s Birthday Honours List is set to be released this weekend. The Government usually refrains from commenting on honours prior to their announcement.
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