Kevin Sinfield knighted by Prince William for MND fundraising

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 7 Oct, 15:08 · Archive

Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield has been knighted by Prince William in recognition of raising over £11 million for motor neurone disease charities.

Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield has been knighted by Prince William at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. He was one of 60 people honoured by the Prince of Wales at the ceremony.

Sinfield received the knighthood for his services to the motor neurone disease community and for services to league and union rugby. He has raised over £11 million for MND charities through his fundraising campaign. The Daily Mail reports the total has reached £13 million.

Sinfield's campaign began six years ago following the diagnosis of his close friend and former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow. Burrow died in 2024 after living with motor neurone disease for four and a half years. Sinfield has since completed seven running challenges inspired by Burrow, with each challenge involving ultramarathons covering over 27.9 miles per day.

His latest fundraiser, the '7 in 7' challenge, involved completing an ultramarathon every day for seven days. The Mirror reports this most recent challenge has raised a further £1.6 million. Sinfield completed the final day of this challenge on Saturday.

Prince William and Princess Catherine surprised Sinfield last week during the final challenge at Wakefield Trinity rugby league club in West Yorkshire. William told him: "Don't hang around for us, go and relax, go and sit down, go and have a shower - well done, honestly, you're amazing." William had previously presented Sinfield and Burrow with their CBEs at Headingley Stadium in 2024.

Sinfield said he was "massively humbled by the whole experience" and "very proud to accept it on behalf of the MND community and their families". When asked how his late friend would have felt about the knighthood, Sinfield said Burrow would be "laughing" but "enormously proud".

The Mirror reports that Sinfield's knighthood required honours protocol to be waived, as the normal three-year gap between upgrades would have made him ineligible for a knighthood until at least 2027. The publication states that over 95,000 people signed a petition calling for him to be honoured, with supporters arguing his contribution was exceptional enough to justify the exception. Sinfield had previously been recognised with an MBE in 2014, an OBE in 2021 and a CBE in 2024.

How it is being reported

• 'Very humbling' - Sinfield receives knighthood at Windsor CastleSir Kevin Sinfield has received a knighthood at Windsor Castle for services to the MND community - after raising money in memory of his late friend and former team-mate Rob Burrow - and for services to league and union rugby.Sky Sports · 7 Oct, 15:06
• Sir Kevin Sinfield: Rob Burrow would ‘laugh but be really proud’ at knighthoodThe rugby coach and motor neurone disease campaigner was one of 60 people to receive honours from the Prince of Wales.Evening Standard · 7 Oct, 14:07
• Sir Kevin Sinfield: Rob Burrow would ‘laugh but be really proud’ at knighthoodThe rugby coach and motor neurone disease campaigner was one of 60 people to receive honours from the Prince of Wales.Independent Sport · 7 Oct, 13:04
• Prince William does the honours as Sir Kevin Sinfield receives knighthood for tireless charity campaigningThe Mirror told how an army of fans called for Kevin Sinfield to be honoured after he raised millions for MND charities last year. Today he received his knighthood in one of the most popular awards in the history of the honours.The Mirror · 7 Oct, 12:40
• Arise, Sir Kevin! Rugby league legend Sinfield is knighted by Prince William after raising £13m for MND in honour of team-mate Rob BurrowsRugby league legend and motor neurone disease campaigner Kevin Sinfield has been knighted by Prince William in recognition of his charity fundraising.Daily Mail Sport · 7 Oct, 11:33

In this story: Kevin Sinfield · Prince William · Rob Burrow · Princess Catherine · Leeds Rhinos · Windsor Castle · Wakefield

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