Kevin Sinfield knighted for MND work as he honors late friend Rob Burrow

Sinfield, who has raised over £11 million for MND charities, said Rob Burrow would be proud of the honour.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:32:07 GMT

Sir Kevin Sinfield was knighted by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, becoming a Knight Bachelor for his services to the motor neurone disease (MND) community and to rugby league and union.

What happened

The investiture ceremony saw 60 individuals receive honours. Sinfield, a former England rugby league captain and current England rugby union coach, was among them. He accepted the knighthood on behalf of the MND community and their families, describing the experience as “massively humbled”.

What the reports add

Both the Independent and the Evening Standard reported that Sinfield said his late friend Rob Burrow would be “laughing” but “enormously proud” of the knighthood. The Independent noted that Prince William, who presented Sinfield and Burrow with CBEs in 2024, was “fantastically supportive” of their campaign, while the Standard quoted Sinfield saying William “champions pulling communities together”. Both outlets recorded Sinfield’s praise for Princess Catherine’s involvement, describing her support as “wonderful” and adding credibility to the MND cause.

What was said

Sinfield told the Press Association, as cited by both outlets, that he was “massively humbled by the whole experience” and “very proud to accept it on behalf of the MND community and their families”. He added that Prince William’s and Princess Catherine’s support had helped unite the MND community over the past six or seven years.

How it came about

Sinfield’s knighthood follows a high‑profile fundraising campaign that began with his seven‑day “7‑in‑7” ultra‑marathon across Super League grounds in early October 2026. The run raised more than £11 million for MND charities, a milestone first reported by Felo News on 1 October (Sinfield passes £1 million mark on day five) and later highlighted in articles about royal visits (Prince and Princess of Wales join Sinfield at Wakefield) and the Grand Final trophy hand‑over (Sinfield presents Grand Final trophy). The knighthood was part of the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, recognising his dual contribution to sport and MND fundraising.

Key facts

Kevin Sinfield was knighted at Windsor Castle by the Prince of Wales. (independent.co.uk)
Sinfield has raised over £11 million for MND charities since 2020. (standard.co.uk)
He said Rob Burrow would be laughing but proud of the honour. (independent.co.uk)