Kevin Sinfield awarded knighthood in King’s Birthday Honours for MND fundraising

Kevin Sinfield has vowed to use his status as rugby league’s second ever knight to step up his inspirational battle to aid further research into Motor Neurone Disease.

Sinfield, who has raised over £11 million for MND causes, inspired by his late friend and team-mate Rob Burrow, has become Sir Kevin in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Sir Kevin, 45, follows Sir Billy Boston, who was the first former rugby league player to be knighted in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in June last year.

His Honour comes less than a week after he announced his seventh and final fundraising challenge, ‘7 in 7’, to raise money to combat the disease and support families affected by it.

Sinfield said: “I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive this award on behalf of the rugby and MND communities.

“Since I first played rugby when I was seven, rugby league has given me so much. I am particularly proud to follow in the footsteps of the great Sir Billy Boston, with rugby league’s second ever knighthood in over 130 years of the sport.

“I am pleased that this honour allows me to continue to raise awareness and I am looking forward to joining up with the ‘7 in 7’ team again in September for our seventh and final annual challenge.”

Sinfield made his Leeds debut at the age of 16 in 1997 and went on to lead the club to seven titles, becoming their record all-time points scorer in 2012.

His subsequent work alongside Burrow, who was diagnosed with MND in December 2019 at the age of 37, to raise awareness of the disease, garnered international recognition.

Sinfield embarked on his first fundraising quest in 2020, running seven consecutive marathons with the initial intention of raising £777,777, inspired by Burrow’s famous shirt number.

His further gruelling challenges took the figure raised into eight figures, and contributed to the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in November 2025, just over a year after Burrow’s death.

“My playing career was everything I could ever have dreamed of as a young man but the last seven years have given me so much inspiration,” added Sir Kevin.

“The MND community are the very best of us and it has been my privilege to support them and put their battle on the stage it needs.

“I would like to thank my family for their wonderful support and all those who have given me their support over the years, I am incredibly grateful.”

Lindsey Burrow, widow of Rob, welcomed Sinfield’s latest honour.

“On behalf of the whole Burrow family, I would like to congratulate Kevin on his knighthood, we are all delighted for him and I can not think of a more deserving recipient.

“Kevin did so much for Rob but also the whole MND community with raising awareness and funds to support families and aid research. I know he has said he is dedicated to supporting the MND community for however long it takes to find a cure and  that means so much to so many people to have a champion like Kevin in their corner.

“As Rob used to say, everyone should have a friend like Kevin and so many people will be pleased to see him get this recognition.”

Following his playing career, Sir Kevin took up a role as director of rugby at Leeds, before switching codes in 2021 to join Leicester’s coaching staff. He is currently a coach with England’s rugby union team.

Calls for Sir Kevin to be knighted in recognition of his fundraising exploits had grown in recent years. He was made an MBE in 2014 for services to rugby league, an OBE in June 2021, and a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.

Sir Kevin’s honour was hailed by Nigel Wood, chairman of the Rugby Football League and RL Commercial, who described him as an “inspiration”.

Wood said: “Rarely has an honour been so richly deserved – and so widely applauded. I am sure the whole of the rugby league community would agree.

“Sir Kev is an inspiration to so many, whether as one of the finest players of his generation, leading Rhinos to seven Super League titles, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge glory plus captaining England and winning the Golden Boot as the world’s best international, or for those staggering feats of endurance in aid of Rob and MND.”

England rugby union head coach Steve Borthwick said: “Kevin’s commitment to others sets an incredible example for all of us. Having seen the impact of his challenges first-hand, I know the difference he makes to people and communities. No one is more deserving of this recognition.”