Kevin Sinfield has been an inspiration to so many in Great Britain and across rugby league, but the former Leeds Rhinos ace was not on the New Year honours list
Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield has inspired the nation with his charity work, but he was still absent from the New Year Honours list.
King Charles III’s honours list was announced on Monday with 67 people from Wales being included. Among those were Welsh rugby legend Jonathan “Jiffy” Davies, Match of the Day host and former gymnast Gabby Logan and numerous NHS heroes and other charity fundraisers.
However, there was no place on the list for Manchester based ex-rugby star and coach Sinfield, despite raising more than £11million for motor neurone disease (MND) charities, in tribute to his friend and rugby league legend Rob Burrow. Many people on social media were aghast to not see Sinfield, who has completed seven ultra marathons in seven days as part of his ‘7 in 7: Together challenge’ every year since 2023, on the list.
“What’s the point of New Year Honours if there’s no Sir Kevin Sinfield?” one fan wrote. Another added: “Seriously what does Kevin Sinfield this fantastic Human Being have to do to receive a Knighthood.”
A third also said: “Kevin Sinfield not being on the new years honours list tells you all you need to know about this country. Whole thing is pointless.”
A fourth also commented: “How the hell has Kevin Sinfield not been recognised for a knighthood in the new years honours? What this guy has done since the passing of his good pal Rob Burrow and similar suffering families is nothing short of incredible.”
However, Sinfield was not left off the list because he was deemed unworthy of a knighthood. His absence can be explained by a strict royal protocol governing the linear process of the honours system.
Sinfield received his first royal honour in 2014 when he was handed an MBE in 2014. Seven years later, he earned an OBE, before being recognised with a CBE in 2024. It’s the latter which has prevented the England rugby union coach from being knighted.
Royal protocol dictates an individual’s honour cannot be upgraded until three years after receiving their last one. As a result, Sinfield will not be eligible for a knighthood until next year at the earliest.
When he earned his CBE, Sinfield dedicated the honour to those who are battling Motor Neurone’s Disease. In 2023, when his honour was announced, he said: “I think it is really special that Rob has been recognised again.
“The bravery and courage that Rob and his amazing family have shown as he is fighting MND is wonderful; to open the front door and to show the world what it’s like to live with it, he’s been incredible.
“I think the whole family have shown us all what a great family look like and they’ve been so inspirational.”
He completed the final leg of his 7 in 7 challenge at the start of December, when he arrived in north Leeds. He was joined by Team GB triathlete Jonny Brownlee and boxing icon Josh Warrington on the way, as people lined the streets to cheer him on.
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