Latest news with #KevinSinfield
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Wigan great Billy Boston to be knighted in historic first for rugby league
The Wigan Warriors legend Billy Boston will become the first rugby league player in the sport's 130-year history to receive a knighthood on Tuesday. Rugby league has never had a player awarded the highest accolade in an honour's list, with calls increasing in recent years thanks to the fundraising done away from the field by the likes of Kevin Sinfield – who is expected to be given a similar honour at some stage – and the late Rob Burrow. But Boston's name has also always been high on the list of candidates overlooked. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion However, that will finally change this week. Boston is expected to be named as a knight to finally end the sport's wait for such an honour. The 90-year-old is not only one of rugby league's greatest players, but one of the pioneering black figures in British sporting history. Boston was born in Cardiff but his opportunities in rugby union were limited. That led to him signing for Wigan in 1953, where he would remain until 1968, setting a number of astonishing records along the way in a glittering career. In 488 games he scored 478 tries, establishing himself as the club's leading try-scorer with a record that will surely never be beaten. Boston was also a member of Great Britain's World Cup-winning squad of 1960, playing for his country on 31 occasions. His accomplishments laid the platform for more players from Wales to make the transition to rugby league from union, with a statue in the centre of Wigan immortalising his importance to the town's history. There is a similar statue in Cardiff of Boston and two more trailblazers from Wales that starred in league, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman. Boston's accomplishments will finally be recognised on a national stage. It is a symbolic moment for league as well as Boston, with the sport getting the honour many believe it has undeservedly lacked for decades. Dozens of high-profile figures from rugby union have been knighted over the last century, with nobody from league achieving a similar honour until now.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Kevin Sinfield 2025 challenge to honour Leeds teammate Rob Burrow
A former England rugby league star has announced he will take on another seven ultra-marathons over seven days, in honour of his late teammate Rob Sinfield, 44, said he and his team will begin this year's challenge - which takes place across the UK and Ireland - on 1 December, raising money and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND).This year he hopes to raise £777,777 - to add to funds of more than £10m raised since he began running marathons in 2020, following his friend's diagnosis in Sinfield said he was excited to take on another challenge, adding it "feels like a form of therapy at times" - particularly last year following Rob Burrow's death, at the age of 41. He told BBC Breakfast: "The five challenges we've done so far have been really tough and challenging, but the people we've met so far, they've all been amazing - so it's important we keep Rob's legacy going and get the other two done."Hearing people's stories along the way is a massive energy-giver, as there's some dark moments on the road [when] it's dark and wet and cold, and your body is telling you to give up."But you take all that energy and emotion on the road and use it as fuel. We share our stories with each other every night, about what's gone on during the day, so it is really powerful."The team will start in Bury St Edmunds before travelling to Ipswich, Cork, Swansea, Sheffield, Workington, Whitehaven, Dundee, and North Yorkshire, arriving in Leeds on 7 December. The money raised will be split between the MND Association, the Leeds Hospital Charity, Irish MND Association, the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, MND Scotland and The Darby Rimmer in Cork, the team will pause to remember former Warrington Rugby League player and Munster Rugby Union coach Paul Darbyshire, who died in 2011 from MND. "The challenge is good for me," Mr Sinfield said, adding: "It's almost like a form of therapy at times, and has given us something to really go after."We can't just expect to rock up on the 1st December and expect it to happen, so there's 10-12 weeks before where we put a lot of time and effort in, and that involves putting yourself in a dark place - the training is the difficult bit."I don't like being in the dark spot but I enjoy coming through it... knowing I've been in there." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thousands of runners turn out in Rob Burrow's memory
Thousands of runners have crossed the start line of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - the first to be held since the rugby league star's death. Leeds Rhinos legend Burrow died last June aged 41 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019. His wife Lindsey and best friend Kevin Sinfield were among those taking part to help raise money for MND. Addressing the crowds, Sinfield said Burrow would be "looking down on us, proud as punch of what we have created here." He said: "Today is about looking after each other. Today is about making sure we get to the finish line. Today is about running for our little mate Rob Burrow." Crowds of runners set off at 09:00 BST for the third annual running of the event with the route passing through Woodhouse Moor, Adel, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley. It was followed an hour later by runners taking part in the half marathon challenge. Paul Green, from Doncaster, was one of thousands of people inspired by the Burrow family's story. The 71-year-old said he was running his first half marathon in memory of his wife who died from MND in 2017. "It has been eight years, but it is still hard," he said. "I am running in memory of Joy. Hopefully she is approving of my lunacy doing it at this age." As well as fundraising for the MND Association, Mr Green volunteers as a "befriender", helping to support people with the disease. Mr Green, whose grandsons were running alongside him, said: "Hopefully together, we will get there and we will do this." Also taking part, Rob Tiffney, said he "knew nothing" about MND before hearing Mr Burrow's story. The 49-year-old is on day 406 of a 500-day challenge to run 5,000 miles. Mr Tiffney said he was hoping to raise £35,000 for the MND Association. "Everyday for 500 days, whatever the weather, I get out and raise as much money and awareness as I can. "Rob definitely influenced others – look at all the people here today." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North 'Running first Leeds Marathon without Rob will be hard' 'Running first Leeds Marathon without Rob will be hard' MND Association Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Thousands come together for Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
Thousands of runners have crossed the start line of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - the first to be held since the rugby league star's death. Leeds Rhino legend Burrow died last June aged 41 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in wife Lindsey and best friend Kevin Sinfield were among those taking part to help raise money for the crowds, Sinfield said Burrow would be "looking down on us, proud as punch of what we have created here." He said: "Today is about looking after each other. Today is about making sure we get to the finish line. Today is about running for our little mate Rob Burrow."Crowds of runners set off at 09:00 BST for the third annual running of the event with the route passing through Woodhouse Moor, Adel, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and was followed an hour later by runners taking part in the half marathon challenge. Paul Green, from Doncaster, was one of thousands of people inspired by the Burrow family's 71-year-old said he was running his first half marathon in memory of his wife who died from MND in 2017. "It has been eight years, but it is still hard," he said."I am running in memory of Joy. Hopefully she is approving of my lunacy doing it at this age."As well as fundraising for the MND Association, Mr Green volunteers as a "befriender", helping to support people with the on by his grandsons who had come to watch, he said: "Hopefully together, we will get there and we will do this."Also taking part, Rob Tiffney, said he "knew nothing" about MND before hearing Mr Burrow's story. The 49-year-old is on day 406 of a 500-day challenge to run 5,000 Tiffney said he was hoping to raise £35,000 for the MND Association."Everyday for 500 days, whatever the weather, I get out and raise as much money and awareness as I can. "Rob definitely influenced others – look at all the people here today." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leeds Marathon runners tell of Rob Burrow inspiration
The emotional moment Kevin Sinfield carried his best friend Rob Burrow over the finish line of the 2023 Leeds Marathon went down in sporting years later, the third Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon will see more than 10,000 runners pound the streets to help raise money to fight motor neurone disease (MND).Burrow had lived with the disease since being diagnosed in 2019, and this will be the first marathon in his name since he died aged 41 last of those inspired to take part by Burrow and Sinfield is Andy Gough, who was diagnosed with a type of MND in March 2024. Now living with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), Andy will be pushed around the course in a wheelchair by his son Matt and friend Richard from Leeds, said: "The support has been amazing, it's going to be very emotional for me especially, but I'm really looking forward to it."It is Rob's legacy now, and it's great to be a part of it."Before his diagnosis, Andy was a keen runner who took part in the Great North Run and Leeds is taking part in a Delta Run assisted wheelchair donated by GFS Ltd in Hull, and he and his son have been practising at Thornes Park Stadium in Wakefield at weekends. Matt said: "We are trying to build up some miles with it, we haven't yet tackled any hills, so we need to do some of that."We have been ramping up the miles ourselves though."He said seeing the "buzz" at the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon inspired him to enter."The streets were just lined with people and even then I thought, I wish I'd have taken part," he said."It will be very emotional and it will be nice to cross the finish line together. "It is hilly, it is long, it will be a challenge but I'm actually looking forward to it."I just hope my dad will be supplying us with sweets and drinks and trying to get us through it!"The team have so far raised more than £6,000 for the MND Association's West Yorkshire branch. Eleanor Thomson, Labour councillor for Rawdon and Guiseley, ran the London Marathon this year before tackling the Leeds event - which she said felt more emotional "because it's home"."It is just the most beautiful day, so many people turn out on the streets, you just see so many people you know," she said."Even at that hideous hill [near Otley Chevin], the view is so spectacular - the worst bit is Golden Acre to Adel Co-op, that second hill kills me."When I get to the Co-op and I see the little robots, I know it's mostly all downhill by then!"Eleanor added: "It does feel more emotional because it's home - it is all the places you know and the people you love who pop up along the course and cheer you on. "Both times I have run it with friends and we have taken it in turns to have wobbles and we have dragged each other up the hill and laughed our way into the stadium."Also running is Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, who has run seven marathons in 70 days to raise money for the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital. He has so far raised more than £1, said: "My seventh and final marathon in this challenge will be the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon since Rob's passing."This is a significant moment that calls for our collective support. Please donate to help make this vision a reality." Adriano Picano is another runner who has clocked up multiple marathons in recent weeks - Sunday's event will be his 15th in 15 said: "I did the Rob Burrow Marathon last year, and I did a few after that. So I said to my wife, I'm going to do 10."So I started at 10 but it has spiralled to 15."He said he had always been into fitness, but stepped it up after lockdown when he started training in the gym from 05:00. Talking about his preparation, he said: "The alarm goes off between 4 and 4:15, much to my wife's displeasure. I need my beauty sleep so I'm usually in bed for like 7.45pm."I work for a bank in service management, life is pretty busy but this is a good cause to support."He said, when running the marathon last year, he was "bowled over by the passion and everyone fighting for a cause".He said: "I was overawed by the legend that is Kevin Sinfield, and Rob Burrow - what a hero, what an inspiration."Adriano is running to raise money for the MND Association, and has so far raised more than £3,000. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
