A petition calling for rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield to be knighted has amassed nearly 100,000 signatures, following a campaign by the Daily Mirror. The online petition, launched by lifelong Leeds Rhinos fan Mel Handforth, has reached 93,319 signatures in two weeks since the newspaper's front-page appeal. If it surpasses 100,000, it would normally trigger a parliamentary debate.
Sinfield, 44, has already been awarded an MBE, OBE, and CBE for his charitable work and service to rugby league. However, honours protocol typically requires a three-year gap between upgrades, meaning he would not be eligible for a knighthood until at least 2027. Supporters argue this rule should be waived given his extraordinary fundraising efforts for motor neurone disease (MND) research.
The former Leeds Rhinos captain has raised over £11.3 million for MND charities, including £1.3 million from his latest '7 in 7' ultramarathon challenge, completed in December 2024. The challenge honoured his late teammate Rob Burrow, who died from MND in June 2024. Prince William praised Sinfield as 'truly inspiring' and awarded both Sinfield and Burrow CBEs in 2024.
Petition starter Mel Handforth, 47, said: 'It is absolutely ludicrous that he has not been given the knighthood. It is a ridiculous rule. He's not doing this for recognition — he's doing it because he cares deeply about the MND community and honouring his friend Rob's legacy.' She originally began the petition nearly four years ago and relaunched it as Sinfield's fundraising passed £11 million.
