The Leeds Rhinos icon was missing from The King’s New Year’s Honours List, despite growing calls after his incredible fundraising efforts for Motor Neurone Disease, with more than £10million raised for the MND community in aid of his late friend and team-mate, Rob Burrow.
Sinfield completed his latest ‘7 in 7 challenge’ in December, running more than 230 miles in seven days and raising more than £1.2million.
Having received a CBE in last year’s list, it has been reported that a recipient of an honour cannot have it upgraded within a three-year period, but that hasn’t stopped calls to recognise the former England captain with the highest honour on offer.
Calls to award the former England captain with the highest honor available have persisted despite reports that a recipient of an honor cannot have it upgraded within three years of receiving a CBE in last year’s list.
“When you look at some of the players over the years who have not just been the best rugby league players in the world but the best rugby players. There’s guys like Billy Boston, who had so many records, and then people like Alex Murphy or, from my era, Ellery Hanley.
“There certainly should have been some rugby league knighthoods by now. You can also look at the likes of Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards, who have done so many amazing things in union since moving over yet probably wouldn’t get the same recognition as a union counterpart.”
Four rugby league figures were recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours List, including Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy and his Leeds Rhinos counterpart Paul Caddick, with an OBE and MBE respectively.
Renowned women’s player Andrea Dobson received an MBE and longtime match official Tony Martin received an OBE for their services to rugby league.
Robinson, a 2003 England rugby union World Cup champion, also thinks Sinfield will eventually receive a knighthood, praising the former Leeds Rhinos captain’s achievements both on and off the field.
The Wigan Warriors legend declared, “There is no question about it—what Kevin has done over the years has been phenomenal.”
And it’s gone way beyond rugby. As a player he was undoubtedly one of the best. But that relationship with Rob and what he’s done for the MND community, raising money and helping others who don’t have the same voice, continuing that for Rob, is just amazing.
“He’s a remarkable human being and has created such a legacy.
“I do think it [a knighthood] will happen at some point. It’s inevitable. Life’s not always fair. But sometimes you think surely there has to be that recognition, whether for an outstanding career or for that charity work. As much as people try and hold us all back, we’ll still make it.”
