Sir Kevin Sinfield has said his late friend Rob Burrow would be “laughing” but “enormously proud” to see him receive a knighthood.
The former England rugby league captain and motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner was one of 60 people to receive honours from the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle earlier.
Sir Kevin, who has raised more than £11m for charity, received a knighthood for his services to the MND community, as well as for services to league and union rugby.
He said he was “massively humbled by the whole experience” and “very proud to accept it on behalf of the MND community and their families”.
The 46-year-old said the William, who presented Sir Kevin and Burrow with their CBEs at Headingley Stadium in 2024, had been “fantastically supportive” of their campaign.
William, alongside the Princess of Wales, surprised Sir Kevin on the third day of his 7 in 7: The Grand Finale challenge last week, during which he completed seven ultramarathons in seven days.
It was inspired by Burrow, his late Leeds Rhinos teammate and friend, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four years.
Sir Kevin said: “I think [Prince William] champions pulling communities together, and I have seen how the MND community have come together on the back of Rob’s diagnosis and several other high-profile sportspeople over the last six or seven years.
“So his support and, obviously, Princess Catherine’s as well, they’ve been wonderful and bring a real credibility to what we’re trying to do.”
Asked how Burrow would have felt to see him receiving a knighthood, Sir Kevin said: “I think he’d be laughing.
“I think he’d be enormously proud of the support behind a campaign that he started, and we continue in his name.
“I think he’d be really proud of it, the support, and the way people got behind what we tried to do, especially Prince William and Princess Catherine, and several other high-profile figures across the UK, and the world.
“On behalf of all the MND families, Rob would just be delighted at how we’ve pulled together.”