Pressure is mounting on the UK government to override honours protocol and award a knighthood to rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield, who has raised over £8 million for motor neurone disease (MND) charities in support of his former teammate Rob Burrow.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay praised the pair as “inspirational figures” during an appearance on BBC Breakfast, though he stopped short of endorsing a knighthood directly. The Mirror revealed that Cabinet Office rules requiring a five-year wait before honours can be upgraded are blocking Sinfield, who received an OBE last year.
Cross-code rugby star Jonathan Davies backed the calls, saying: “What Kevin Sinfield has done is totally inspirational and just shows what friendship really means.” More than 44,000 people have signed a change.org petition demanding the honour for the 42-year-old.
Labour MP Jim McMahon, whose constituency includes Sinfield’s hometown of Oldham, said: “I can’t think of many more deserving recipients.” Independent peer Lord John Mann added: “Protocol should be overridden in this case, absolutely – the public acclamation demands it.”
Conservative MP Mark Pawsey, vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rugby League, said both men “deserve high praise and honour.” Burrow, 40, was diagnosed with MND in 2019, triggering Sinfield’s extraordinary fundraising efforts.
