Knight rugby league star Kevin Sinfield and correct ‘major injustice’, says commons speaker

The speaker of the House of Commons has said it is a “major injustice” that no rugby league player has ever been knighted.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs on Thursday that “now is the time” to knight the former professional player Kevin Sinfield, who has raised more than £10 million to combat motor neurone disease (MND).

Sinfield, currently a coach with the England rugby union team, played more than 500 games for Leeds Rhinos and also represented England and Great Britain.

Rob Burrow, another rugby league star and Sinfield’s friend, passed away from complications of MND at the age of 41 in June last year.

The speaker’s comments came after a question from Labour MP David Baines, who is chair of the rugby league all-party parliamentary group (APPG), at House business questions.

Baines said: “In all this time, no one from the sport of rugby league has ever received the highest honour of a knighthood or a damehood.

“Not one person in 130 years. Despite having many worthy recipients and candidates for such honours, including the likes of Billy Boston, Alex Murphy and Kevin Sinfield.

“Does does the leader [of the House of Commons Lucy Powell] share my dismay and frustration and surprise at this oversight?”

Answering for the government, Powell said: “I too think that Kevin Sinfield has been the most incredible ambassador, not just for sport but for charity [fund] raising. And he certainly would be somebody I think we should all consider.

“But I will make sure that the powers that be have heard his comments today, and I’ll help him to make representations on that.”

Hoyle added: “Just to say, as I’ve been tempted into the conversation, I’ve also raised it with the prime minister because there is a major injustice, and the stigma against rugby league where not one person has ever had a knighthood.

“But the fact that Kevin Sinfield has raised millions for the motor neurone disease and on behalf of what he’s done, I would have thought now is the time and we wait no longer.”

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