Kevin Sinfield Knighted for MND Advocacy and Sporting Achievements
Former rugby league captain honored by the Prince of Wales for his tireless work raising funds and awareness for motor neurone disease.
Sir Kevin Sinfield, a prominent advocate for the motor neurone disease (MND) community and former England rugby league captain, has been knighted by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle. The investiture ceremony recognized his extensive efforts in raising over £11 million for MND charities, as well as his contributions to both league and union rugby.
Sinfield expressed that his late friend and Leeds Rhinos teammate, Rob Burrow, would be both "laughing" and "enormously proud" to witness this honor. Burrow died in 2024 after a four-year battle with MND. Sinfield stated he was "massively humbled by the whole experience" and "very proud to accept it on behalf of the MND community and their families."
Prince William has been a vocal supporter of Sinfield and Burrow's campaign. Earlier in the year, he and the Princess of Wales surprised Sinfield during the final day of his "7 in 7: The Grand Finale" challenge, where he completed seven ultra-marathons in seven days. Sinfield noted that the Prince of Wales "champions pulling communities together" and has observed how the MND community has rallied following Burrow's diagnosis and the involvement of other high-profile sports figures.
Looking ahead, Sir Kevin plans to organize a run in Australia and New Zealand next year. The goal of this initiative would be to foster collaboration among nations dedicated to finding a cure for MND and improving support for affected families. He described the response from the MND community to his knighthood as "wonderful," highlighting the strength and resilience of families facing challenging times.
Despite the new title, Sinfield remains grounded, stating he does not think he will ever get used to being called "Sir Kevin." He reiterated that the motivation behind his efforts has always been "a run for a mate, with some mates," emphasizing that this core principle will not change.
Among other recipients at the investiture was Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee, who also received an honor from the Prince of Wales.