From rugby league to knighthood - how friendship with Rob Burrow inspired Kevin Sinfield's fundraising efforts

From rugby league to knighthood - how friendship with Rob Burrow inspired Kevin Sinfield's fundraising efforts Kev, 45, is set to be awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours this weekend for his efforts in memory of his late friend and team-mate Rob Burrow who battled MND Rugby legend Kevin Sinfield played his entire trophy-laden career for Leeds Rhinos - but is best known for his ironman fundraising for Motor Neurone Disease. Kev, 45, is set to be awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours this weekend for his efforts in memory of his late friend and team-mate Rob Burrow who battled the disease. So far he has raised more than £11million for MND charities after Rob was diagnosed with the devastating muscle-wasting condition in 2019. He sadly died in 2024 aged just 41. Born in Oldham in 1980, Kev attended Saddleworth School, where he was head boy. After signing for rugby league side Leeds as a teenager he told how he first met best pal Rob: “We first met at a Rhinos squad session. Every player who had signed professionally trained one night a month together. I was 14 and Rob was 12. He was so quiet and shy, but so talented and quick. “The time we have spent together in a dressing room and on the field. We sat next to one another for 15 years, 300 days a year. He is funny and loyal. We shared some really challenging moments in our careers – the core of that team did – and that gave us all a special bond.” During his glittering career at Leeds Kev won seven Super Leagues, two Challenge Cups, three World Club Challenges and three League Leaders' Shields. He also made 29 appearances for England and 14 appearances for Great Britain. After retiring as a player he switched to rugby union and worked as defence coach for both Leicester Tigers and the England national team. It was following Rob’s MND diagnosis in 2019, Kev began his superhuman fundraising efforts. In 2020 he ran 7 in 7 - seven marathons in seven days - initially hoping to hit £77,777, but ultimately raising over £2 million. The following year he ran 101 Miles in 24 Hours - the Extra Mile Challenge from Leicester to Leeds, raised another £1 million. In both 2022 and 2025 he covered 7 ultramarathons across different cities in the UK and Ireland cities, raising millions more. Between them he famously carried Rob over the finish line at the Leeds Marathon in 2023. The pair were made CBEs in January 2024 when Prince William surprised them with their awards at Headingley Stadium - home of the Rhinos. Dad-of-three Rob tragically died five months later, after living with MND for four-and-a-half years. In a tribute to his ‘little mate’, Kev said: “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 4 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.” This week Kev, who is married to wife Jayne Sinfield and has two sons, Jack and Sam, announced The Grand Finale - his seventh and final challenge to run between Hull and Manchester. Starting in September he will run around 30 miles each day to all 12 English Super League grounds before finishing ahead of the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 3. Speaking about his efforts to date, he said: “Our team have done a wonderful job. I couldn't have done any of it without them, they are so unselfish in the way they've gone about this. “We couldn't have done this on our own. The money has gone a long way and we're getting closer and closer, but we've got to keep pushing, we’ve got to try and find a cure.”