Fans are raging after rugby legend and motor neurone disease fundraiser Kevin Sinfield was missing from the New Year’s Honours.
There are mounting calls for him to receive a knighthood over his gruelling charity challenges in honour of his tragic teammate Rob Burrow.
Commenting on a celebratory post of Gareth Southgate’s win, one X user said: ‘He gets knighted for managing the national team to NEARLY winning tournaments, meanwhile Kevin Sinfield is running marathons, raising money, and been a hero for people across the country and the MND Charity! What a joke!’
Another said: ‘The fact that Kevin Sinfield and John Burkhill continue to be overlooked for knighthoods, is a national disgrace.’
‘How the hell has Kevin Sinfield not been knighted in the honours list, yet Gareth Southgate has. Mind-boggling.,’ a third commented.
In the past, Sinfield has played down talk that he deserves a knighthood – insisting the Government should focus on continuing to fund research into motor neurone disease instead.
This month, he ran seven ultramarathons across seven cities in seven successive days, for his fifth annual fundraiser for motor neurone disease causes. It is his first since his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob died of MND in June.
The rugby player was diagnosed with the disease in 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-season league career.
Rob, a fan favourite, won eight Super League titles with Leeds but after being diagnosed with the illness, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community. He did so with the support of former Leeds teammate Kevin.
Fans are raging after rugby legend and motor neurone disease fundraiser Kevin Sinfield was missing from the New Year’s Honours. He is pictured carrying his friend the late Rob Burrow over the finish line before he passed away
Calls for Sinfield to be knighted are nothing new. In 2021, boxing legend Frank Bruno said he hoped the honours committee ‘have been following what Kevin has done’.
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: ‘To the powers that be in this country… I know a lot of people want to see that and here those immortal words, ‘Arise Sir Kevin’.’
Sinfield was awarded an OBE that summer after he raised more than £2.7m in support of Rob Burrow by running seven marathons in seven days.
But asked about being upgraded to a ‘Sir’ after his latest fundraising feats, the Leicester Tigers coach said in 2021: ‘It’s really nice but I’d much rather the Government keep giving funds to MND and to try and find a cure.
‘It’s not about that (honours). The big driver is the Rob Burrow Care Centre in Leeds. It’s really important to all of us. The sooner we can get that open the better.’
The Prince and Princess of Wales sent a message of support to Sinfield – who took part in a gruelling charity challenge for his beloved late friend this December.
Prince William took to social media to film a heartwarming clip from him and Kate Middleton, as he wished The England rugby union coach ‘good luck’.
Pictured: Kevin starts his latest fundraising challenge, Running Home For Christmas, at the annual charity fundraising Liverpool Santa Dash event on December 1
In January, the Prince of Wales honoured Rob for his charitable efforts, telling him ‘we’re all so proud of you’ while visiting Headingley Stadium in Leeds to present the rugby legend with his CBE
The Prince and Princess of Wales sent a message of support to Kevin Sinfield after the passing of his beloved late friend Rob Burrow. Both pictured with William earlier this year
‘Kevin Catherine and I just want to wish you the very best of luck for what’s going to be a very gruelling week raising money and awareness around MND,’ William said in the video, shared on X.
‘What you and rob have achieved has been incredible. It’s a very fitting tribute to his legacy, what you’re achieving again this week.
‘I’m sure you’ll be running with him in your mind the whole way round, so the very best of luck from Catherine and I. We’ll be thinking of you all week. Good luck.’
Earlier this summer, William and Kate led touching tributes to inspirational former rugby star and motor neurone disease sufferer Rob, who died aged 41.
The official X account of Prince William and Princess Kate posted a touching message and expressed their condolences to the brave legend’s family.
The post read: ‘A legend of Rugby League, Rob Burrow had a huge heart.
‘He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream’. Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy.’ It was signed off with a W for William.
In January, the Prince of Wales honoured Rob for his charitable efforts, telling him ‘we’re all so proud of you’ while visiting Headingley Stadium in Leeds to present the rugby legend with his CBE.
Kevin Sinfield, with Rob Burrow, being interviewed at Headingley Stadium after completing the Extra Mile Challenge from Leicester to Leeds on November 23, 2021
Sinfield and Burrow previously starred alongside each other in Rugby League for Leeds Rhinos
Sinfield (left) and Burrow (right) played together for Leeds Rhinos, and their bond grew even stronger after Burrow’s diagnosis
The royal also presented Rob with the medal – still in its box – as he lauded the former athlete’s legacy and efforts in campaigning.
‘Thank you and congratulations – for all the inspirational work you’ve done, Rob,’ Prince William said as the sporting icon was surrounded by his beaming wife and their children. ‘You’ve been amazing, you really have and everyone’s so proud of you.
‘We’ve all been following your case. You’ve changed so many people’s lives with MND with what you’ve done. We’re all so proud of you.’
Kevin has spoken about taking part in the emotionally poignant charity fundraiser without his friend by his side this year.
‘Rob has been a part of the first four and to not have him around this time is pretty tough,’ said the 44-year-old, who will again run in a No7 jersey, the number famously worn by Burrow during his Rhinos career.
‘I won’t be getting his nightly text messages and I will miss his humour. I miss him every day. But clearly, he would want us to continue this fight and it is important we do.
‘We have lost a great man, but he wouldn’t want us to be dwelling on this. He’d want us to rip into this and have a smile on our face and try and do him justice, which is what he intend to do.
‘We will share a lot of stories about him, we will laugh about him and I have no doubt he will be with us in spirit. I will certainly think of him most steps of the way along this route.
‘This was only put together right at the start because we were doing a little run for our little mate. Things have changed since then but I will never go away from why it was set up.
‘We will wear that No7 again and it means a lot that we will represent Rob and the Burrow family in the right way.’
Burrow (pictured with wife Lindsey) was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Years Honours List
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, paid a surprise visit to award Burrow a CBE this year
Kevin has already raised almost £10million for MND charities from his four challenges to date.
He previously said his third fundraiser in 2022 would be his last – but he now wants to keep going until 2026.
‘The plan is to do two more after this one, if we get through this unscathed,’ added Sinfield. ‘I would love for us to do seven given this has all been built around the number seven.
‘It feels like a great place to then move on to a different way of fundraising.
‘I will never stop fundraising for MND. We will just try and find a different way of doing it. It will be time to find seven of something else.’
Sinfield released a heartfelt statement on social media on Sunday evening following Burrow’s passing that read: ‘Today was the day that I hoped would never come. The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so so many. You fought so bravely until the end and became a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only for the MND community but for all those who saw and heard your story.
‘My love and thoughts go out to your beautiful family, Lindsey, Macy, Maya, and Jackson, to your lovely parents Geoff and Irene, sisters Joanne and Claire and your wider family and friends.
‘You will continue to inspire me every single day. I have lost a dear friend and I will never forget the special times we shared both on and off the pitch. I would always say that you were pound for pound the toughest player I ever played alongside, however, since your diagnosis, you were the toughest and bravest man I have ever met.
‘The last four and a half years you showed the world what living and loving looked like and this was always done with the biggest smile on your face.
‘I will miss you my little mate. All my love, Kev.’
Burrow is survived by his wife Lindsey and children Macy, Maya and Jackson.
He spent his entire club career with Leeds and made over 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017. He also represented England and Great Britain.
England Rugby League wrote on X alongside pictures of Burrow representing his nation: ‘For club and country. RIP Rob Burrow CBE.’
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