4 rugby league icons who should be knighted including Leeds Rhinos greats and when Kevin Sinfield is eligible
History was made in 2025 when Billy Boston became the first man to be knighted for services to rugby league in the game’s 130-year history.
Rugby league received more recognition this week when past and present referees Julia Lee and Tara Jones were made Members of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2026 New Year Honours. But, as predicted, there was no knighthood for Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield. Though Sinfield’s sensational rugby career and incredible charity efforts, which have raised millions of pounds to fight motor neurone disease, have led to calls for him to be knighted, protocol states an honour can’t be upgraded within a three-year period.
Sinfield was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2024 new year list, so will be eligible for a knighthood in 12 months’ time. With politicians, the public and media all pressing for that to happen, it seems likely Sinfield will become Sir Kevin sooner rather than later.
However, he’s not the only rugby league icon who deserves such an honour. Here we state his case and outline three others we also believe deserve to follow in Sir Billy Boston’s footsteps and become rugby league Knights.
Kevin Sinfield MBE OBE CBE: Already known as ‘Sir Kev’ by Leeds Rhinos fans, it’s surely only a matter of time before that’s made official. Sinfield was a seven-time Grand Final-winning captain, also skippered England and had a spell as an administrator with the RFL and his former club before switching codes. The 45-year-old is the highest goals- and points-scorer of the Super League era and since hanging up his boots has become a nationally known and admired figure because of his gruelling annual challenges to raise money for MND causes.
Neil Fox MBE: The greatest points scorer in rugby league’s history, with a staggering 6,220. Now 86, he was born in Sharlston and signed for Wakefield Trinity aged 16, making his debut in 1956. The last of his 828 career appearances – a total only two men have beaten – was for Bradford Northern in 1979. His total of 2,575 goals is the second-most by a rugby league player and he was capped 29 times for Great Britain.
Ellery Hanley MBE: Leeds-born Hanley, 64, was the greatest English rugby league player of the 1980s and 90s and a leading light of the peerless Wigan side which dominated the game. A three-time Man of Steel, he won the Golden Boot – as the world’s best player – and is a member of rugby league’s Hall of Fame. Capped 36 times by Great Britain, he also starred in the Australian club competition and went on to win a Grand Final as coach of St Helens. In 1994 he became the first black person to coach a Great Britain team in any major sport.
Alex Murphy OBE: Among the greatest – and most controversial – half-backs of all-time, Murphy, now 86, was a World Cup winner in 1960, featured in three victorious Ashes series for Great Britain and had a hugely successful playing career with St Helens, Leigh and Warrington. Also one of the top coaches of his era, he was nationally known through his role as a co-commentator on big games for the BBC.