The RFL congratulates Kevin Sinfield, Neil Fox and Professor Chris Brookes following King's Birthday Honours List

The RFL today congratulates Kevin Sinfield after it was announced he will be made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) - and fellow rugby league legend Neil Fox plus Professor Chris Brookes for their own awards.  

The trio were bestowed the awards in the King’s Birthday Honours.  

Nigel Wood OBE, Chair of the RFL and RL Commercial, said: “On behalf of the Rugby Football League, and the sport of Rugby League, it is a privilege to congratulate Sir Kevin Sinfield on his knighthood.  

“Rarely has such an honour been so richly deserved – and so widely applauded. I am sure the whole of the rugby league community would agree. 

“Sir Kev not only achieved so many feats in our sport, including captaining Leeds Rhinos in one of the greatest eras for any club in our history, but he also earned global acclaim for his truly remarkable efforts when supporting his much-loved friend Rob Burrow and the entire Motor Neurone Disease community.  

“No one will forget the numerous arduous running challenges, which tested his mind, body and spirit, that he completed - and continues to undertake - to raise crucial funds and awareness for MND.  

“Sir Kev is an inspiration to so many, whether as one of the finest players of his generation, leading Rhinos to seven Super League titles, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge glory plus captaining England and winning the Golden Boot as the world’s best international, or for those staggering feats of endurance in aid of Rob and MND.  

“He has affectionately been known as ‘Sir Kev’ for years by Leeds supporters and it is wonderful for that moniker to be now made official by His Majesty The King.  

“After Sir Billy Boston became Rugby League’s first knight last June, ending a long 130 year-wait for the sport, it is encouraging to witness another of our brilliant ambassadors now being bestowed the same honour and recognition.”  
Sinfield, 45, has been knighted for his services to rugby league and the MND community. 

He made his debut for Leeds in 1997 and spent his entire rugby league career at Headingley, becoming renowned for his leadership, kicking and tactical quality in a star-studded ‘Golden Generation’ side, including fellow Academy products Burrow, Danny McGuire and Jamie Jones-Buchanan. 

After retiring, Sinfield also headed the programme that led England to the 2017 World Cup final as RFL performance director before switching codes and now coaches for England rugby union’s national side.

Following Burrow’s MND diagnosis in 2019, he pledged to help his former team-mate battle the cruel condition and began a series of gruelling running challenges which have now raised more than £11m for the MND community as it continues striving to find a cure.

Sinfield recently revealed details of his seventh and final challenge which will see him run seven ultramarathons in as many days, taking in all 12 English Super League grounds from Hull to Wigan before finishing at the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 3. 

Rugby league can also today hail Fox’s latest honour as the sport’s record points-scorer receives a CBE for his services to rugby league and the community. 

The Wakefield Trinity legend, 87, remains one of the greatest-ever players in the sport’s long history. 

He was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1983 – 23 years after she had presented him and his Trinity team-mates with the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 1960, the first of three Cup glories in just four years. 

Wood added: “It is an honour to be able to celebrate Neil Fox’s award of a CBE.  

“Neil’s astonishing feats, largely with the glorious Wakefield Trinity side of the 1960s, have stood the test of time in Rugby League. It is almost unimaginable today to think that Neil played more than 800 professional games. 

“Nearly half-a-century after his glorious career drew to a close, still no one has yet got close to his all-time scoring record of 6,220 points.  

“Indeed, it’s hard to envisage it ever being surpassed. Amongst players of his generation, he was widely regarded as the finest of centres, both here and overseas. 

"And later, when he moved into the forwards, he was still highly impactful, indeed scoring two tries against the Kangaroos for Bradford in 1978. 

"Neil, of course, is one of the three famous Fox brothers each of whom achieved great success in our sport. 

"A prolific member of the famous Great Britain touring side that won the Ashes in 1962, it is wonderful to see Neil, at the age of 87, still attending games at his beloved Trinity and remaining such a significant part of that community." 

Meanwhile, Professor Brookes, Wigan Warriors chair and a former RFL and England Rugby League chief medical officer, has been awarded an MBE. 

Brookes, who was added to the RFL’s Roll of Honour in 2023, has served the sport for 30 years in a range of various roles alongside his distinguished career in the NHS.

Wood said: “It’s fitting that Professor Chris Brookes has also been honoured by the King with an MBE for his services to rugby league. 

“Along the way he has served with distinction, in his role as doctor at clubs such as Salford, Bradford Bulls and Wigan, but also on the international scene where he worked with the England national side for a long time. 

“He continued his exemplary work as the RFL’s chief medical officer for 16 years, producing crucial work in fields such as brain health and player welfare as well as steering the game through the pandemic, before stepping down in 2023.”