Arise, Sir Kevin: Sinfield knighted in king’s birthday honours list & interview (UK) 13/Jun/2026

Rugby league star Kevin Sinfield has been knighted in the King's Birthday Honours, with Dame Helen Mirren and members of the England women's football team among those receiving awards. Sir Kevin has been awarded a knighthood after completing six running challenges, inspired by his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate and friend Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with motor neurone disease (MND) for four-and-a-half years. The former England rugby league captain, who has raised more than £11m for charities dedicated to the disease, received the honour for his services to the MND community, as well as for services to both rugby league and union. "I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive this award on behalf of the rugby and MND communities," Sir Kevin said. "Since I first played rugby when I was seven, rugby league has given me so much." Sir Kevin, 45, said he was "particularly proud" to be one of just two league players ever knighted, after Sir Billy Boston received the distinction last year. Burrow's widow Lindsey said: "On behalf of the whole Burrow family, I would like to congratulate Kevin on his knighthood. We are all delighted for him and I cannot think of a more deserving recipient. "Kevin did so much for Rob but also the whole MND community with raising awareness and funds to support families and aid research." On Sir Kevin's knighthood, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham wrote on X that it was "truly... the best news I've heard in a long time and starts to restore my faith in the honours system". Actress Dame Helen Mirren was also among the King's birthday honours, being made a Companion of Honour - one of only 65 - for services to drama. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film, The Queen. In football, Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty for England's Lionesses in last summer's Euros final, was one of the players to be made an MBE. #kevinsinfield #sirkevinsinfield #birthdayhonourslist #ukhonourslist #birthdayhonourslist2026