Kevin Sinfield has been knighted in the King's Birthday Honours in recognition of his glittering rugby league career and subsequent fundraising exploits to aid research and support families affected by Motor Neurone Disease.
The 45-year-old, who has raised over £11m since being inspired by his friend and Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow's battle against the disease in 2020, tops the list of sports stars recognised for their contributions to their sports and charities.
Two-time Ryder Cup winning captain Luke Donald, snooker player Shaun Murphy and retired England Red Roses player Emily Scarratt are made OBEs, while England U21 coach Lee Carsley, and six members of the Lionesses squad who helped retain their European title last year, are made MBEs.
Sinfield has 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, where he will start at Hull KR on September 28 and call in at the grounds of the 11 other English top-flight rugby league clubs along the way.
The '7 in 7: The Grand Finale' venture is set to finish on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final on Saturday October 3.
Commenting on the announcement, Sinfield said: "Very humbled, very overwhelmed by all of it, really," said Sinfield, speaking to Sky News.
"I think when you played a team sport, and then you're in a coaching team, it feels very different to get individual awards, because I've wanted to do is win team trophies or win team awards.
Of course, Burrow is always very much at the forefront of Sinfield's thoughts.
The courage and bravery he showed is still rippling and ripping right through the MND community and the rugby codes," he said.
"People want to talk to me about Rob all the time, so he's never out of my thoughts, but then I'd have loved to have seen his smile when I was told in this news because he loved everything we did.
"He provided the inspiration for it all, I just think he'd be so happy. He wanted to make it better for those that came after him, and he's certainly done that, and will continue to do that. I'd love to have seen his smile this morning."
In an earlier announcement, Sinfield gave an important nod to history and the sport where he became a legend.
"Since I first played rugby when I was seven, rugby league has given me so much" he said. "I am particularly proud to follow in the footsteps of the great Sir Billy Boston with rugby league's second ever knighthood in over 130 years of the sport. Sir Billy overcame so much in his life and is still loved by the game.
"As always, I continue to be inspired by the courage that Rob Burrow showed in his battle with the disease and he is never far from my thoughts.
"We have raised so much awareness and funds to support families and aid research but more needs to be done. We have to continue the fight for the 5,000 people who are living with MND in the UK today and the six people who will be diagnosed tomorrow and the next day.
"I would like to thank my family for their wonderful support and all those who have given me their support over the years, I am incredibly grateful."
Lindsey Burrow, widow of Rob, welcomed Sinfield's latest honour.
"On behalf of the whole Burrow family, I would like to congratulate Kevin on his knighthood, we are all delighted for him and I can not think of a more deserving recipient," she said.
"Kevin did so much for Rob but also the whole MND community with raising awareness and funds to support families and aid research. I know he has said he is dedicated to supporting the MND community for however long it takes to find a cure and that means so much to so many people to have a champion like Kevin in their corner.
"As Rob used to say, everyone should have a friend like Kevin and so many people will be pleased to see him get this recognition."
Murphy's honour recognises his charity work – notably for the Rainbow Children's Hospice in the Midlands – and comes just over a month after he lost the World Snooker Championship final in a last-frame decider against Wu Yize.
"I probably should have shouted a lot louder about it to be honest and tried to use my social platforms a bit more to really get it out there," said Murphy, speaking to Your Site News. "I'm currently a patron for the Rainbows Children's Hospice in Leicestershire, which is obviously very important.
"I was a patron of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for many, many years, following a family member being in there for many years of her young life, and that was something that really touched my heart years ago.
"I've got my snooker trophies to have somebody recognise the charity work that I've done often in the shadows is really special, and for my family, who've been obviously with me from day one, supported me through the highs and the lows.
"My mum, for instance, I told my mum – you're not meant to tell anyone, but I did tell my mum it was coming – and bless her, like I don't think I've ever seen her so happy!"
Europe Ryder Cup captain Donald, who is attempting to become the first person in Ryder Cup history to lead a team to three consecutive wins next year at Adare Manor, paid tribute to his fellow players and support team.
"I am very grateful to be receiving this honour," said Donald, who won four Ryder Cups as a player.
"It is a proud moment for me, for my family and for all the people I have been fortunate to work with throughout my career, both individually and in the Ryder Cup."
Scarratt, who retired last year after her second World Cup win with England, said: "It's a huge honour and incredibly humbling. I'm proud to share this recognition with everyone who has been part of that journey."
Carsley, the England U21 head coach who briefly took over the national team on an interim basis in 2024 following Gareth Southgate's departure, is made an MBE alongside Lionesses Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo.
Cliff Jones, a member of Tottenham's 1961 double-winning side who played for Wales in the 1958 World Cup, is made an MBE for his services to Welsh football.
Former manager Lou Macari, who set up the Macari Foundation to help combat homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent in 2016, is also made an MBE for his services to football and to homeless people.
Former Arsenal chairman David Dein, who founded The Twinning Project, which forges bonds between football clubs and local prisons with the aim of minimising re-offending, is made an OBE for services to football and charity.
Dein said: "I am delighted to have my contribution to football and the Twinning Project charity recognised with the news of my award of an OBE. Football is a major part of my life and finding a way to employ it as a force for good within HMPPS has been a matter of huge pride."
And there is another honour for rugby league with 87-year-old former Wakefield great Neil Fox made a CBE for services to his sport and the community in West Yorkshire.
Nigel Wood, chairman of the Rugby Football League and RL Commercial, said: "Neil's astonishing feats, largely with the glorious Wakefield Trinity side of the 1960s, have stood the test of time in rugby league. It is almost unimaginable today to think that Neil played more than 800 professional games.
"Nearly half-a-century after his glorious career drew to a close, still no one has yet got close to his all-time scoring record of 6,220 points."
