Kevin Sinfield has been knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his outstanding rugby league career and his tireless fundraising and campaigning for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research and support.
The 45-year-old former Leeds Rhinos captain has raised more than £11 million since 2020 after being inspired by team-mate and close friend Rob Burrow’s battle with MND. Burrow died in 2024 after living with the disease for four-and-a-half years. Sinfield has completed six high-profile endurance challenges to raise funds and awareness, and will undertake another major effort later this year.
Sinfield’s next venture, billed as “7 in 7: The Grand Finale,” will see him run an ultra-marathon each day for seven days. He will begin at Hull KR on September 28 and visit the grounds of the 11 other English top-flight rugby league clubs en route, finishing on the Old Trafford pitch ahead of the Super League Grand Final on October 3.
Commenting on the honour, Sinfield said he was deeply honoured and grateful to receive recognition on behalf of both the rugby and MND communities. He reflected on how his playing career fulfilled lifelong dreams and said the last seven years of campaigning had provided profound inspiration. Sinfield paid tribute to Rob Burrow’s courage and to Sir Billy Boston, noting he is the second person from rugby league to receive a knighthood in the sport’s history. He thanked his family and supporters and urged continued action for the roughly 5,000 people living with MND in the UK and the new diagnoses that follow every day.
Lindsey Burrow, Rob’s widow, welcomed the news. She said the Burrow family were delighted and called Sinfield a deserving recipient, praising his commitment to the MND community and describing him as “a champion” for families affected by the disease.
Other sporting honours in the list included several well-known names. Two-time Ryder Cup-winning captain Luke Donald was made an OBE; Donald, who has won four Ryder Cups as a player and is preparing to lead Europe again, described the honour as a proud moment for him, his family and his colleagues. Snooker star Shaun Murphy received an OBE, recognising his achievements on the table and his charity work, notably with the Rainbow Children’s Hospice. Former England Red Roses centre and current coach Emily Scarratt was also made an OBE after a decorated playing career that included two World Cup wins.
England U21 head coach Lee Carsley was made an MBE after stepping up on an interim basis for the senior national team in 2024. Six members of the current Lionesses squad who helped retain the European Championship were recognised with MBEs: Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo.
Several long-serving figures in football and rugby were honoured as well. Cliff Jones, a member of Tottenham’s 1961 double-winning side who represented Wales at the 1958 World Cup, was made an MBE. Former manager Lou Macari received an MBE for his work through the Macari Foundation tackling homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent. Former Arsenal chairman David Dein was awarded an OBE for services to football and charity for founding The Twinning Project, which links football clubs with prisons to help reduce reoffending.
Rugby league great Neil Fox, 87, was made a CBE for services to the sport and to the West Yorkshire community. Nigel Wood, chairman of the Rugby Football League and RL Commercial, praised Fox’s extraordinary achievements—more than 800 professional games and a longstanding all-time scoring record of 6,220 points—that remain unmatched decades after his retirement.
The honours recognise a wide range of sporting achievement and community service, from elite performance and coaching to long-term charitable work and grassroots impact. For Sinfield, the knighthood underlines both a storied playing career and a sustained commitment to changing lives for families affected by MND.