Kevin Sinfield received his knighthood today after a huge public campaign to make him a 'Sir'. The honour was conferred at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, with Prince William performing the honours.
Public campaign and fundraising success
The Mirror reported how an army of fans called for Sinfield to be honoured after he raised more than £11m for Motor Neurone Disease charities following his challenge last year. More than 95,000 people signed one petition.
He had already been recognised with an MBE (2014), OBE (2021) and CBE (2024) for his charitable work and service to rugby league. But honours protocol normally required a three-year gap between upgrades, which would have meant he was not eligible for a knighthood until at least 2027.
However, his supporters argued that his contribution was so exceptional that the rule should be waived to grant him a knighthood — and he officially became Sir Kevin today.
Latest fundraiser and royal support
His latest fundraiser, seven ultramarathons in seven days, which he completed on Saturday, has raised another £1.6m and rising.
The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised him last week at Wakefield Trinity rugby league club in West Yorkshire, where William patted him on the shoulder and told him: "Don't hang around for us, go and relax, go and sit down, go and have a shower - well done, honestly, you're amazing."
Sir Kev told the Mirror how much of a morale booster the royal visit was for him as he ran the longest leg of his epic fundraiser across Yorkshire last Wednesday.
Other honourees and background
Others to be honoured by Prince William included Olympic triathlete Alistair Brownlee, England Under-21s football coach Lee Carsley and rising Lioness star Michelle Agyemang. Actor and director Dexter Fletcher and anti-abuse campaigner Zelda Perkins were also among 60 people picking up their gongs at the ceremony.
Sir Kevin has completed seven running challenges inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four and a half years. His knighthood was for his services to the MND community, as well as for services to league and union rugby.
Two-time Olympic triathlon champion Brownlee was made an OBE for services to triathlon and charity. He is the only athlete to have won two individual Olympic gold medals in triathlon and founded the Brownlee Foundation, a charity which aims to inspire children from all backgrounds to enjoy sport, with his brother Jonny Brownlee. Agyemang, who plays for Arsenal in the Women's Super League, was last year's BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
