Kevin Sinfield OBE, born on September 12, 1980, is an English rugby union coach and former professional rugby league player. He is currently serving as the defence coach for the England national team. Sinfield spent his entire professional career with Leeds Rhinos, where he achieved remarkable success as one of the most accomplished players in Super League history. His primary position was loose forward, although he occasionally played as a stand-off and hooker.
During his time with Leeds Rhinos, Sinfield captained the team to seven Super League championships and two Challenge Cup victories, solidifying his status as a key figure in the club's success. Individually, he earned numerous accolades, including the Lance Todd Trophy (2005), the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice (2009, 2012), and the prestigious Golden Boot (2012), becoming one of only five British-based players to receive the latter award.
Sinfield holds several records, including the highest points-scorer in Super League history, the third-highest points-scorer in British rugby league history, and Leeds' record points scorer. He also stands as one of only two players to have led a team to win three consecutive Super League titles.
At the international level, Sinfield represented England on 26 occasions, serving as the team's captain. He also earned 14 caps for Great Britain. In addition to his rugby league career, Sinfield briefly played rugby union for Leeds' sister club Yorkshire Carnegie during the 2015-2016 season before retiring from playing in 2016.
Following his retirement, Sinfield became heavily involved in charity work, particularly in fundraising efforts for charities associated with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). His notable fundraising initiatives include running marathons and ultramarathons to raise significant amounts of money for the MND Association. Sinfield's charitable endeavors have earned him widespread recognition and admiration.
Beyond his playing career, Sinfield transitioned into coaching and management roles. He initially joined the Rugby Football League (RFL) as Rugby Director in 2016, where he was responsible for developing performance strategies for the England national team. Sinfield later returned to Leeds Rhinos as their Director of Rugby and, subsequently, joined Leicester Tigers as their defence coach. In December 2022, he took up the position of defence coach for the England national rugby union team.
Kevin Sinfield's remarkable achievements both on and off the field, his leadership skills, and his dedication to charitable causes have made him a highly respected figure in the world of rugby. His contributions to the sport have been recognized with prestigious honors, including being appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2014 and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2021. Sinfield's commitment to the MND community and his outstanding sporting career led to him and former teammate Rob Burrow being awarded the Freedom of the City of Leeds in 2022.
KG(23/06/2023)
Career
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England Coach |
2023 - present |
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Leeds Tykes Fly Half |
2016 - 2017 |
