‘About time’: Leeds locals hail Sir Kevin Sinfield a ‘national hero’ as rugby league legend knighted

Sir Kevin Sinfield has received a long-awaited knighthood for his services to rugby and the MND community - and our readers have hailed him a “national hero”.

The rugby league legend, who has raised over £11 million for MND causes, inspired by his late friend and teammate Rob Burrow, has been made a Knight Bachelor in the King's Birthday Honours list.

And Sinfield has vowed to use his new status to step up his inspirational battle to aid further research into Motor Neurone Disease.

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.

The 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.

And praise for Sinfield and his fundraising efforts has poured in from Yorkshire Evening Post readers following the news of his knighthood.

Ron Bird said it was “about time” for the knighthood, while Andy Hewitt added: “Probably THE most deserved knighthood in a very long time”.

“Absolutely fantastic news,” Neville Armitage said. “Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person, the only true Knight this country has.”

Ian Garnett commented: “I cannot think of a more worthy person to receive this award. Thank you Sir. You are a credit to your sport, the MND community and your city.

Calls for Sir Kevin to be knighted in recognition of his fundraising efforts 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.

Our readers have called for a statue honouring Burrow and Sinfield - capturing the stirring image of Kevin carrying Rob across the finish line of the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.

“Everybody is so proud of you Sir Kevin Sinfield,” Jackie Daniels said. “Rob Burrow will be so proud of you too. National hero.”

Jodi Plant added that Sinfield is an “inspiration of a man”.

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.

Sinfield is a patron of the MND Association, which has offered a “huge congratulations” on his “well-deserved” knighthood.

The charity added: “Kev has been a tireless advocate for motor neurone disease charities and the MND community since the diagnosis of his teammate and friend, Rob Burrow CBE, in 2019. In that time, he has raised over £11 million for MND charities and helped bring vital awareness to the disease.

“Congratulations, Sir Kev — and thank you for everything.”