A BBC presenter was visibly struggling to hold back tears during an emotional interview with rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield this morning. Sinfield was awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his extraordinary fundraising work for Motor Neurone Disease. The former rugby league star has generated over £11m during the past seven years following his friend and team-mate Rob Burrow‘s MND diagnosis in 2019, before his death in 2024.
During an interview with BBC journalist Sally Nugent on BBC Breakfast this morning, both were visibly moved and had to suppress tears. “You are not making me cry again! ,” said an emotional Sinfield to the BBC when asked if Burrow was in his thoughts when he received the letter from the King. “. He added: “He’s in it a lot anyway. He’s still inspiring.”
Sinfield said: “The courage and bravery he showed is still rippling and ripping right through the MND community and the rugby codes.
“In sport across the UK people want to talk to me about Rob all the time. He’s never out of my thoughts but I’d have loved to have seen his smile when I told him 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 who came after him.
“He’s certainly done that and will continue to do that, but I would have loved to have seen his smile this morning.”
As the camera turned to Nugent, she was visibly moved while Sinfield delivered his speech.
Sinfield, who has also held a coaching role with the England rugby union side, has earned widespread admiration for his unwavering dedication to raising awareness of motor neurone disease.
The devastating condition has left a dark mark on rugby across both codes, claiming several of the sport’s most celebrated figures.
Former England internationals Lewis Moody and Ed Slater are both battling MND, while Scotland legend Doddie Weir and South Africa icon Joost van der Westhuizen tragically succumbed to the illness.
“I’m still coming to terms with it,” Sinfield told the BBC. “I’m very humbled and overwhelmed by all of it. I think when you’ve played a team sport it feels very different to get individual awards.
“Effectively all I wanted to do was win team trophies or team awards. I’m a little bit embarrassed but massively overwhelmed and humbled.”