Sir Kevin Sinfield has said his late friend Rob Burrow would be 'laughing' to see him receive a knighthood. The rugby star, whose seven years of marathon running has raised more than £12m to help find a cure for motor neurone disease, said his mate would have found it funny to see him go through the sword-on-the-shoulder ceremony, but would have been 'enormously proud'.
Honour at Windsor Castle
Sir Kev was among 60 people to receive honours from the Prince of Wales at a Windsor Castle ceremony. He received the knighthood for his services to the motor neurone disease community and rugby, following a Daily Star 'give-him-a-gong' campaign.
Sinfield has just finished his seventh seven-marathons-in-seven-days challenge, inspired by former Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob, who was diagnosed with the degenerative nerve condition in 2019. Kev famously carried his pal over the Leeds Marathon finishing line in 2023 after pushing him in a specially-adapted wheelchair around the 26.2-mile course. Rob died the following year aged 41.
Continued fundraising
Kev has kept on running, clocking up 84 marathons - many of them longer 'ultra' versions - to help the UK's 8,000 sufferers. Sir Kevin, 46, said he was 'massively humbled by the whole experience' and 'very proud to accept it on behalf of the MND community and their families'.
The England rugby union coach said William - who presented him and Rob with CBEs at Headingley Stadium in Leeds in 2024 - had been 'fantastically supportive' of their fundraising campaign. "I think he champions pulling communities together and I have seen how the MND community have come together on the back of Rob's diagnosis and several other high-profile sportspeople over the last six or seven years," Kev said.
Rob's reaction
Asked how Rob would have felt to see him receiving a knighthood, he said: "I think he'd be laughing. I think he'd be enormously proud of the support behind a campaign that he started, and we continue in his name."
Sir Kev was surprised by the Prince and Princess of Wales when they turned up to greet him during his latest challenge last week. Wills turned down the chance to join him on his trek, saying he 'can't do Lycra'.
Final challenge
The new knight completed his seventh marathon by running onto the Old Trafford pitch with the trophy ahead of the Super League Grand Final last weekend - then watched son Jack help Wakefield lift it after victory over Warrington. Sir Kev said his latest challenge - expected to raise double his £777,777 target - will be his seventh and last, having matched the number Rob used to wear on his shirt.
He is now planning a run in Australia and New Zealand next year to help global sufferers and their families. Kev said the reaction from the MND community to his knighthood had been 'wonderful'. "I felt very fortunate to have connected with a lot of families who are going through some real challenging times, yet still continue to be at the roadside or stopping me in the street for a chat to share their story," he said.
But he admitted he had not got used to the title 'Sir Kevin' yet, adding: "I don't think I ever will. It's really nice but every time I hear that I go straight back to why we started. And it was a run for a mate with some mates and that'll never change."
Other sports honours
Other sports stars to receive honours at the ceremony included retired Brit triathlete Alistair Brownlee, who was made an OBE for services to triathlon and charity. The only athlete to have won two individual Olympic gold medals in triathlon, Brownlee is chef de mission for Team GB at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which starts in Senegal at the end of the month.
He also founded the Brownlee Foundation with his brother Jonny - a charity which aims to inspire children from all backgrounds to enjoy sport. Brownlee said it was 'very special' to be at the ceremony. "Doing sport was quite literally a childhood dream for me and it was amazing," he said.
England footballer Michelle Agyemang said it was 'incredible' to be made an MBE. The 20-year-old star was named young player of the tournament as she helped the Lionesses win Euro 2025 in Switzerland. Michelle, who has been out of action with a ruptured cruciate ligament, said she was 'getting very close to returning now'. The Arsenal striker, who was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, has been balancing working hard in the gym for her recovery with her university studies.
