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Kevin Sinfield has been knighted in the King’s Birthday Honors in recognition of his glittering rugby league career and subsequent fundraising work to support research and families affected by motor neurone disease.
The 45-year-old, who has raised £11 million in 2020 inspired by his friend and Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow’s battle against the disease, tops a list of sports stars recognized for their contribution to sport and charity.
Two-time Ryder Cup-winning captain Luke Donald, snooker player Sean Murphy and retired England Red Roses player Emily Scarratt have been made OBEs, while England U21 coach Lee Carsley and six members of the Lionesses squad that helped them retain the European title last year have been made MBEs.
Seinfeld completed six endurance challenges, inspired by Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four and a half years.
Sinfield’s latest test will see him run an ultra-marathon every day for seven days, starting at Hull KR on September 28 and calling on the grounds of 11 other English top-flight rugby league clubs along the way.
The ‘7 in 7: The Grand Finale’ initiative is set to culminate on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final on Saturday 3 October.
Seinfeld has completed six endurance challenges to raise funds for MND
Commenting on the announcement, Sinfield said: “I am deeply honored and grateful to receive this award on behalf of rugby and the MND community.
“My playing career was what I dreamed of as a youngster but the last seven years have given me a lot of inspiration.
“The MND community is the best among us and it is my privilege to support them and put their fight on the stage of need.
“Since I first played rugby at the age of seven, rugby league has given me so much. I am particularly proud to follow in the footsteps of the great Sir Billy Boston to win a knighthood for the second time in more than 130 years of rugby league. Sir Billy has been through a lot in his life and still loves the game.
“As always, I continue to be inspired by the courage Rob showed in his battle with twelve diseases and he is never far from my thoughts.
“We’ve raised a lot of awareness and funds to support families and support research but more needs to be done. We need to keep fighting for the 5,000 people living with MND in the UK today and the six people who will be diagnosed tomorrow and the day after.
“I would like to thank my family for their wonderful support and everyone who has supported me over the years, I am incredibly grateful.”
Leeds Rhinos legend Danny McGuire, Seinfeld and the late great Rob Barrow were key figures in their golden generation.
Lindsay Barro, Rob’s widow, welcomed Seinfeld’s latest honor.
“On behalf of the entire Twelver family, I’d like to congratulate Kevin on his knighthood, we’re all delighted for him and I can’t think of a more deserving recipient,” he said.
“Kevin has done so much for Rob to help raise awareness and funds and research to help the family but for the entire MND community. I know he says he is dedicated to supporting the MND community no matter how long it takes to find a cure and it means so many people have a champion like Kevin in their corner.
“As Rob used to say, everyone should have a friend like Kevin and a lot of people will be happy to see him get this recognition.”
Donald, Murphy, Scarratt, Carsley, Lionesses Hon
European Ryder Cup captain DonaldThe man, who is trying to become the first man in Ryder Cup history to lead a team to three consecutive wins at Adare Manor next year, paid tribute to his fellow players and supporting team.
“I’m very grateful to receive this honor,” said Donald, who won four Ryder Cups as a player
“It’s a proud moment for me, my family and all the people I’ve had the privilege of working with throughout my career both personally and at the Ryder Cup.”
Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has been made an OBE
Murphy’s The honour, which recognizes his charity work, particularly for the Rainbow Children’s Hospice in the Midlands, comes just a month after he lost the World Snooker Championship final in a last-frame decider against Wu Ying.
Scartwho retired last year after winning his second World Cup with England, said: “It is a huge honor and incredibly humbling. I am proud to share this recognition with everyone who has been a part of this journey.”
Former Red Roses center and current England attack and backs coach Emily Scarratt has also been awarded an OBE.
KersleyThe England U21 head coach who takes over the national team in the interim following the departure of Gareth Southgate in 2024, has been made an MBE with the Lionesses. Michelle Agyemeng, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly and Alecia Russo.
Cliff JonesA member of Tottenham’s 1961 double-winning side who played for Wales at the 1958 World Cup, he was awarded an MBE for his services to Welsh football.
Former manager Lou McCarey, The Macari Foundation, who set up the Macari Foundation to help tackle homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent in 2016, has been made an MBE for services to football and homelessness.
Former chairman of Arsenal David Yourswho founded The Twinning Project, which aims to reduce re-offending by building links between football clubs and local prisons, has been made an OBE for services to football and charity.
The Dean said: “I am delighted to be recognized for my contribution to football and the Twinning Project charity with the news of my award of an OBE. Football is a major part of my life and to find a way to employ it as a force for good within HMPPS is a matter of great pride.”
And there’s another honor for rugby league with the 87-year-old former Wakefield great Neil Fox Made a CBE for his services to sport and the community in West Yorkshire.
Nigel Wood, chairman of Rugby Football League and RL Commercial, said: “Neil’s astonishing feats, originally with the glorious Wakefield Trinity side of the 1960s, have stood the test of time in rugby league. To think that Neil played more than 800 professional games is almost unimaginable today.
“Nearly half a century after his illustrious career ended, no one has yet come close to his all-time scoring record of 6,220 points.”
