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Dual-code ace Jason Robinson is staggered Leeds Rhinos icon Kevin Sinfield hasn’t yet earned the ultimate honour in the King’s New Year’s Honours List – or anyone in the sport’s 130 year history
Dual-code legend Jason Robinson blasted rugby league’s knighthood snub and fired: “It’s ridiculous.”
There has been an outcry, not only across the sport but the wider public, that Kevin Sinfield did not receive the honour in the King’s New Year’s list. The inspirational ex-Leeds and England captain has raised more than £10million for the MND community with his remarkable running feats in aid of late pal Rob Burrow.
Sinfield, 44, did receive the CBE in 2023 along with former Rhinos team-mate Burrow who sadly died from MND in June. But there has been no upgrade, a decision which has left many fuming. However, there hasn’t been a single knighthood throughout rugby league’s entire 130 year history.
In that time, most sports have been honoured. Rugby union has seen nine people receive the ultimate accolade, including England’s 2003 World Cup-winning boss Sir Clive Woodward and British Lions chief Sir Ian McGeechan. Ex-Wales and Lions winger Gerald Davies, 79, also got the nod yesterday in the King’s latest New Year’s Honours list.
Robinson, who won trophies galore with Wigan before a cross-code switch saw him feature with Woodward’s world champions, said: “What Kevin has done over the years has been phenomenal, no doubt about it.
“And it’s gone way beyond rugby. As a player he was undoubtedly one of the best. But that relationship with Rob and what he’s done for the MND community, raising money and helping others who don’t have the same voice, continuing that for Rob, is just amazing. He’ s a remarkable human being and has created such a legacy.
“If you’re associated with rugby league, though, you don’t get the same recognition compared to rugby union. I don’t know why it is but I’ve seen it myself and for so long. I only got something when I went to union. I won 20 major trophies in league. But what I did in union, I was doing all that in league for ten years.”
Robinson was appointed MBE in 2004 having scored in England’s World Cup final win over Australia and was awarded the OBE four years later for services to rugby. But he insisted: “The fact no one in rugby league has a knighthood is ridiculous.
“When you look at some of the players over the years who have not just been the best rugby league players in the world but the best rugby players. There’s guys like Billy Boston, who had so many records, and then people like Alex Murphy or, from my era, Ellery Hanley.
“There certainly should have been some rugby league knighthoods by now. You can also look at the likes of Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards, who have done so many amazing things in union since moving over yet probably wouldn’t get the same recognition as a union counterpart.”
There is a suggestion that a recipient of an honour can’t have it upgraded within a three-year period. Sinfield, now working on England rugby union’s coaching staff, received an MBE in 2014 for services to rugby league and an OBE four years later for the same plus his charitable fundraising. His CBE followed for his continued tireless work in helping the MND community.
Robinson, 50, said: “I do think it [knighthood] will happen at some point. It’s inevitable. Life’s not always fair. But sometimes you think surely there has to be that recognition, whether for an outstanding career or for that charity work. As much as people try and hold us all back, we’ll still make it.”