Leeds Rhinos legend Sir Kevin Sinfield has made a surprise revelation ahead of his latest fundraising epic - he doesn’t like running.

Since his series of challenges began six years ago, Sinfield has raised more than £11m for those affected by motor neurone disease, the illness which claimed the life of his former Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow in 2024. This year’s ‘7 in 7: The Grand Finale’ will see Sinfield and his team run an ultra-marathon every day for a week, starting in Hull on Sunday and finishing at Old Trafford, where he will present the match ball ahead of Saturday’s Betfred Super League Grand Final.

The route takes in all 12 English Super League grounds, with Sinfield visiting Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity on day three and his spiritual home, Rhinos’ AMT Headingley Stadium, the following morning. Though his achievements have made him arguably the most famous and admired fund-raiser in the country, he admitted taking to the start line each morning isn’t something he enjoys.

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Kevin Sinfield is preparing for his final 7-in-7 challenge, which will visit Leeds Rhinos' AMT Headingley Stadium next week. Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Kevin Sinfield is preparing for his final 7-in-7 challenge, which will visit Leeds Rhinos' AMT Headingley Stadium next week. Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.

“I don’t like running,” the former Rhinos captain insisted. “I like finishing a run. I like getting to the end, knowing I’ve achieved something, but actually the thought of getting up and going, ‘I’m like everybody else, I don’t like it. I know it’s good for me, I’m a better person when I’ve done it. It's part of who I am now. ”

Sinfield is part of the England coaching set-up in the 15-a-side game, but regards his Rhinos playing days, which ended 11 years ago, as part of his past. Raising funds and awareness for the MND community is his passion and he stressed: “My view on my rugby career now is very, very different to while I was playing and when I first retired.

“Interestingly, my playing career was just there to get me ready to run. I didn’t know all that at the time. All those experiences - cup final losses, getting dropped, getting injured, being in a dressing room with the guys I was in with for such a lengthy period of time, being sat next to Rob for 15 years - just created a lot of experiences that got me ready to run like we have done. I don't think about rugby a lot, I don’t talk about rugby a lot, but what I do know is the values, the support, the training has enabled me to be in a great spot to run."

This year’s challenge is the first since Sinfield was knighted in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours, finally making official the epithet handed to him by Rhinos fans two decades ago. Sir Kevin conceded his new title hasn’t yet sunk in. “I’m still just massively humbled by the whole thing,” he stated. “I’ve just done a bit of running for a mate.”

Kevin Sinfield will deliver the Grand Final match ball at Old Trafford when he ends his ‘7 in 7: Grand Finale’ challenge next Saturday. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

The seventh challenge will be 46-year-old Sinfield’s last to support those impacted by MND in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, though he is considering ways of continuing his fundraising in the future. Around half a million pounds has already been raised by this year’s event. Donations can be made via this link.