Kevin Sinfield completes seven-in-seven ultramarathon and carries trophy into Old Trafford
Kevin Sinfield completed his seven-ultramarathon challenge and carried the Super League Grand Final trophy into Old Trafford in Manchester ahead of the Grand Final. He finished the final leg after visiting all 12 Super League clubs as part of the fundraiser.
Sinfield completed the challenge to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND) causes in memory of his friend and teammate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024. He began the seven-in-seven sequence in Hull on September 27 and visited every Super League club during the run. Sinfield, 45, played his entire professional career with Leeds Rhinos and is described in the source as one of the most successful players in Super League history. He and Burrow met at the Leeds Rhinos academy at ages 14 and 12 and went on to win seven titles together with Leeds Rhinos.
Sinfield ran seven ultramarathons in seven days, finishing at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester and bringing the Grand Final trophy out onto the stadium before the match between Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity. He carried the Super League Grand Final trophy into Old Trafford as part of the event.
Speaking to the crowd, Sinfield said: "The rugby league community has got right behind the MND community and Rob would be so proud to see how you've supported and cared, and showed your love for a community that really needs us."
Along the route he was surprised by visits from royals, including The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal, and by sporting figures such as former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate and Leeds boxer Josh Warrington. Prince William and Catherine made an unexpected appearance in Wakefield on Tuesday to meet Sir Kevin. Each day of the challenge was divided into 7km, hour-long blocks with an additional extra mile for members of the MND community to join.
Funds raised by the event will go to the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association. The fundraiser and his team have raised more than £13m for the MND community since Sinfield's first annual challenge in 2020.
Burrow's wife, Lindsey Burrow, told BBC Radio 4's PM that her late husband "would have been incredibly proud" of his friend. "It's bittersweet that Rob's not here today to see Kevin finish his final challenge but Rob will be with us in spirit and it's just testimony to Kevin that he's so humbled to do this not just for Rob but for the whole MND community," Lindsey said. "It's just incredible. I am in complete awe of the efforts of Kevin and his team over the last seven days, and not just over the last seven days but over the last seven years," she added.
Sinfield arrived at Old Trafford at about 17:00 BST and his appearance preceded the Super League Grand Final between Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity. Sinfield's son, Jack Sinfield, lined up in the Wakefield side seeking to clinch their first top-flight title since 1968.
