Six Lionesses awarded MBEs in King's Birthday Honours; Kevin Sinfield

Kevin Sinfield, the former Leeds Rhinos and England rugby league captain, has been awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours list. He becomes only the second rugby league figure to be knighted, following Billy Boston. Sinfield, 45, led Leeds to seven Super League titles between 2004 and 2015 and has raised over £11 million for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research and support since 2020. His fundraising was inspired by his close friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 at age 41 after a five-year battle with MND.

Recognition for Rugby League Legends

Alongside Sinfield, rugby league legend Neil Fox has been upgraded from an MBE to a CBE. Fox, 87, is the all-time leading points scorer in British rugby league history. Nigel Wood, chairman of the Rugby Football League, said: "Neil's astonishing feats, largely with the glorious Wakefield Trinity side of the 1960s, have stood the test of time in rugby league."

Lionesses Honoured

Six members of England's Euro 2025-winning squad have been appointed MBEs: Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, and Alessia Russo. This follows five of their teammates being recognised in the New Year Honours list. The Lionesses' victory in the European Championship has brought significant attention to women's football in England.

Other Sporting Honours

Former England rugby union captain Emily Scarratt has been made an OBE after retiring last year following her second Women's Rugby World Cup win. Luke Donald, the two-time Ryder Cup-winning captain, receives an OBE. He won four Ryder Cups as a player and will attempt to become the first captain to lead a team to three consecutive victories next year at Adare Manor in Ireland. Snooker's Shaun Murphy, who narrowly missed a second world title last month, also receives an OBE for his charity work, notably for the Rainbow Children's Hospice in the Midlands. Murphy told BBC Sport: "I couldn't believe it, I started shaking. It had actually gone to our previous address [initially] so we had 24 hours to respond and accept, so I might have missed it. You realise that for your family, who have been on this journey since I started snooker when I was eight, that's as big as it gets. I don't think I've ever heard my mum as happy or as proud."

Football and Community Honours

Former Scotland international Lou Macari has been made an MBE for services to football and homeless people in Stoke-on-Trent. Ex-Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein becomes an OBE for services to football and charity. Gary Street, who coached the England women's rugby union team to World Cup glory in 2014, also receives an MBE.

Sinfield's Continued Fundraising

Sinfield, now England rugby union's defence coach, announced his seventh and final annual challenge just four days ago to raise money for MND charities. He said: "My playing career was everything I could ever have dreamed of as a young man but the last seven years have given me so much inspiration. The MND community are the very best of us and it has been my privilege to support them and put their battle on the stage it needs. I am pleased that this honour allows me to continue to raise awareness and I am looking forward to joining up with the '7 in 7' team again in September." Rob Burrow's widow Lindsey said: "On behalf of the whole Burrow family, I would like to congratulate Kevin on his knighthood. We are all delighted for him and I can not think of a more deserving recipient. Kevin did so much for Rob but also the whole MND community. [It] means so much to so many people to have a champion like Kevin in their corner. As Rob used to say, everyone should have a friend like Kevin and so many people will be pleased to see him get this recognition."