'Sir Kevin Sinfield' to finally be honoured after raising over £11.3m

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Calls are growing for the modest star to be recognised in the New Year honours following his latest extraordinary efforts.

The Prince of Wales led the tributes, offering his “huge congratulations” after Sinfield raised another £1.3m for motor neurone disease treatment and research in memory of the late Rob Burrow.

This pushes the total to more than £11.3m, following five previous challenges that brought in £10m.

Sinfield, 45, received the CBE in last year’s honours, and although another award is not usually given within three years, supporters believe his actions warrant an exception.

Andy Bell, 49, chairman of Featherstone Lions Rugby Club in Wakefield, W. Yorkshire — where Sinfield’s former Leeds teammate Rob Burrow played as a junior — said: "He should have been knighted by now really. What he has done is quite exceptional.

"I know that there is a rule that says he cannot be honoured within three years of his last honour. People don't really know about that rule around here and he would be as good a reason as any to break that rule. The fans already call him Sir Kevin."

Almost 50,000 people had signed a petition calling for Sinfield to be knighted as he set off on his final leg from York to Leeds yesterday, completing seven ultramarathons in seven days with a mini-army of Santas. Speaking to the gathered crowd at Headingley Stadium, Sinfield vowed to "keep on fighting" for the MND community.

Addressing the fans who braved heavy rain to support him, he said: “To the MND Community and the people we've met on route, all through the last week, all through the past five years, to everybody we've met. you're an absolutely beautiful community.