Leeds Rhinos legend Sir Kevin Sinfield to take next 7-in-7 MND challenge overseas

Sinfield completed his latest 7-in-7 ultra-marathon feat at Old Trafford last Saturday before Wakefield Trinity’s historic Super League Grand Final win against Warrington Wolves. That was his seventh challenge for motor neurone disease (MND) charities, with more than £13m raised since he began in 2020.

So far, all Sinfield’s feats of endurance have taken place in the UK and Ireland, with the 2026 version taking him from Hull to Manchester via all 12 English Super League grounds. The former Rhinos captain, whose son Jack Sinfield was in Wakefield’s winning team last weekend, was inspired by ex-teammate Rob Burrow who was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and died five years later.

Sinfield – who delivered the Grand Final trophy and match ball – has now confirmed his next challenge will take place in New Zealand and Australia next year. Exact timings and venues have not been decided, but he will run seven marathons in seven venues across seven days. He said: “Saturday was a beautiful culmination for our 7-in-7 team.

“To raise so much money and awareness has been wonderful, but the most important thing has been to show the MND community they are loved. I have always said I am committed to this cause for life. There will come a time when I can’t run anymore, but until then I am always thinking of ways I can do more.”

Sinfield’s challenges have involved a support group of runners, cyclists and helpers. He went on: “I have been part of the best team I have ever been in over the last six years and I could not have achieved what I have without our incredible team behind me, but seven felt like the right number to finish this chapter.

“Everyone involved volunteers their time. We don’t have a marketing or events company running things behind the scenes, our team are doing this in their spare time alongside their day jobs.

“That includes the long weeks of training and months of planning and preparing, so it would be wrong for me to assume everyone would want to go again. I hope we can, but the next challenge has to look different and go to new places.

“We have seen recently in Australia, with the news both rugby league star Jai Arrow and rugby union international Nathan Charles have been diagnosed with MND, that more needs doing. Former AFL star Neale Daniher did an incredible job in raising the profile for the disease in Australia before his passing earlier this year and hopefully we can pull all the football codes together with our week-long challenge.

“We have lots of friends in New Zealand, from both codes of rugby, who have sent me messages of support down the years and it would be wonderful to go there too. It is obviously a massive undertaking and we will need the help of partners to deliver it, but we are confident we can continue to bang the drum for MND.”