BBC presenter Sally Nugent was visibly struggling to hold back tears during an emotional interview with rugby league legend Sir Kevin Sinfield on BBC Breakfast this morning.
Sinfield Awarded Knighthood for MND Fundraising
Sinfield was awarded a knighthood in the King's birthday honours list for his remarkable fundraising work for Motor Neurone Disease. The 45-year-old has collected more than £11 million over the past seven years following his friend and fellow rugby league legend Rob Burrow's MND diagnosis in 2019, before his death in 2024.
During the interview, both appeared visibly moved and had to hold back tears. "You are not making me cry again!" said an emotional Sinfield when asked if Burrow was in his thoughts when he received the letter from the King. He added: "He's in it a lot anyway. He's still inspiring."
"The courage and bravery he showed is still rippling and ripping right through the MND community and the rugby codes. In sport across the UK people want to talk to me about Rob all the time."
"He's never out of my thoughts but I'd have loved to have seen his smile when I told him this news because he loved everything we did. He provided the inspiration for it all. I just think he'd be so happy. He wanted to make it better for those who came after him."
"He's certainly done that and will continue to do that. But I would have loved to have seen his smile this morning."
As the camera turned to Nugent, she appeared visibly moved while Sinfield delivered his speech.
Widespread Admiration for Dedication
Sinfield, who also held a coaching role with the England rugby union side, has earned widespread admiration for his unwavering dedication to raising awareness of motor neurone disease. The illness has left a devastating mark on rugby union, claiming a number of the sport's most celebrated figures. Former England internationals Lewis Moody and Ed Slater are both living with MND, while Scotland legend Doddie Weir and South Africa icon Joost van der Westhuizen both lost their battles with the condition.
"I'm still coming to terms with it," Sinfield told the BBC. "I'm very humbled and overwhelmed by all of it. I think when you've played a team sport it feels very different to get individual awards. Effectively all I wanted to do was win team trophies or team awards. I'm a little bit embarrassed but massively overwhelmed and humbled."
