Ex-Wigan Warriors and Great Britain star criticises Kevin Sinfield snub and points to divide

Former Wigan Warriors and Great Britain star Jason Robinson has described Kevin Sinfield as ‘phenomenal’ after his latest knighthood snub. Sinfield has raised more than £11 million for motor neurone disease charities over the last five years with his latest challenge taking place last month.

The former Leeds Rhinos man, who is currently a member of the England rugby union coaching set up, ran 50km a day for seven days, in seven different locations across the country. His latest effort raised over £1.3million and he completed the challenge with a leg injury, too.

As such, it seems a knighthood is the least Sinfield, who already has a CBE, deserves for his efforts, with public support for such an honour growing year on year. Unfortunately, though, he was overlooked in the New Year Honours list, which was announced earlier this week, with Gareth Southgate and Sadiq Khan among the more notable names on the list.

Robinson, who has an OBE himself, has criticised the decision to overlook Sinfield while pointing to the divide between rugby league and rugby union.

“What Kevin has done over the years has been phenomenal, no doubt about it,” Robinson told the Daily Mirror. “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 10 years.”