Sir Kevin Sinfield has pledged to continue his fundraising work in tribute to his late friend and team-mate Rob Burrow for the rest of his life, after completing his seventh ultramarathon challenge at the weekend.
The former Leeds Rhinos star completed seven ultramarathons in seven days last week, finishing at Old Trafford in Manchester before the Super League Grand Final. This marks the seventh year that Sinfield has undertaken the challenge in honour of Burrow, who passed away in 2024 following his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis in 2019.
A challenge rooted in meaning
Sinfield initially launched the 7 in 7 challenge in 2020, aiming to raise £77,777 for former Leeds team-mate Burrow and the MND Association. The number seven carried particular meaning for the duo. Beyond being Burrow's shirt number at the Rhinos, it also represented the number of titles the pair secured together at the club.
Over the past six years, Sinfield and his team of volunteers have generated more than £13m for the MND community. The 2026 challenge has already collected over £1.4m.
Grand Finale marks a turning point
Titled the Grand Finale, the seventh challenge will be the final one of its present format - with Sinfield acknowledging that his team of devoted volunteers deserved a rest.
"The team, it was right we made this seven because seven felt right," he told BBC Breakfast on Monday morning. "The commitment from the team has been unbelievable."
"They're all volunteers. They all put so much time and effort into it. There's no events company or marketing company. It's 16 of us."
"I think I felt I needed to release, if that's the right word, disconnect, uncouple... I can't find the right term that has enough warmth for that group. Set them free... I'm not sure they want to be set free. We'll see. But I will be going again."
Looking to the future
Discussing his next challenge in honour of Burrow, Sinfield continued: "It has to look different and it has to feel different. I made a commitment for life. I'm in this for life. There'll come a point where I can't run."
"The team didn't make this commitment. I'd like to go again. It has to look different. I'd like us to go Down Under. Since March this year, there's been a bit of a plan of going after Australia and New Zealand and doing a 7 in 7 there."
"Put the codes together - rugby league, rugby union, Aussie Rules. I've got a lot of friends over there who I think would be keen to support."
"MND is big over there, too. I think if we can go after this globally and pull countries together, we have a chance of curing it sooner."
Sinfield's most recent 7 in 7 challenge commenced in Hull, taking in the stadiums of all 12 UK Super League clubs throughout the route. His journey culminated at the Super League final, where he witnessed his son Jack help Wakefield secure their first top-flight championship since 1968.
Throughout the week, he received visits from royals, including The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal, as well as celebrated sporting figures such as former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate and Leeds boxer Josh Warrington. England head coach Steve Borthwick accompanied Sinfield - who presently serves as a skills coach with England - on one leg of the challenge, joined also by former England international Lewis Moody.
Moody's participation held special significance, with the former Bath and Leicester flanker having received his own diagnosis of the condition earlier this year. Each day comprised 7km, hour-long segments with an extra mile added for members of the MND community to participate.
Money raised through the challenge will support the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association.
Burrow's wife, Lindsey Burrow, told BBC Radio 4's PM that her late husband "would have been incredibly proud" of his close friend.
"It's bittersweet that Rob's not here today to see Kevin finish his final challenge but Rob will be with us in spirit and it's just testimony to Kevin that he's so humbled to do this not just for Rob but for the whole MND community," said Lindsey.
"It's just incredible. I am in complete awe of the efforts of Kevin and his team over the last seven days, and not just over the last seven days but over the last seven years."
