Sir Kevin Sinfield is set to take charge of the Super League Grand Final match ball for what will be his seventh and final challenge, a symbolic moment that will see him deliver the ball at the historic venue where many of his most celebrated achievements took place. The ceremony is scheduled for the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October, with the event being broadcast live on Sky Sports. The former Leeds Rhinos and England captain is once again gearing up for a demanding endurance undertaking, this time aimed at raising further awareness and financial support for the motor neurone disease (MND) community throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Since launching his first annual run in 2020, Sinfield and his dedicated team have collectively raised more than £11 million for MND charities, and this latest ultra‑marathon will push those efforts even further.
The new challenge will see Sinfield complete an ultra‑marathon each day for a full week. He will begin his journey at the home ground of the world‑club champions Hull Kingston Rovers on Sunday, 27 September, before travelling to the stadiums of all twelve English Super League clubs. Each day’s run will culminate in a visit to a different venue, allowing fans and local communities to engage with the cause, before the final leg brings him to Old Trafford ahead of the Grand Final on Saturday, 3 October. For Sinfield, this final run holds particular emotional weight because it brings the story full circle, returning "back home" to the rugby league family that has supported him for years.
It also offers a chance to revisit sites where his close friend Rob Burrow, the legendary Leeds forward, once dazzled opponents. Old Trafford, in particular, is a venue of great significance: it was there in 2011 that Burrow produced what many consider the greatest Grand Final try ever, slicing through St Helens to clinch a memorable victory. Sinfield believes that presenting the ball at the "Theatre of Dreams" is a fitting tribute to both his own legacy and Burrow’s indomitable spirit. "I think it's nice to bring it back home to the rugby league community.
This is where it all started for Rob," Sinfield told Sky Sports. He added that visiting the grounds where Burrow terrorised defenders was "particularly special" and that ending the journey at Old Trafford felt "great". "Rob scored, in my opinion, the greatest Super League try, greatest Grand Final try ever. He won eight Grand Finals.
To get a chance to visit some places that I know very well, where the support has been awesome over the last six years, I am looking forward to it," he said. Sinfield also reflected on the broader support rugby league fans have shown to the MND cause. He recalled the atmosphere at Old Trafford during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup final, noting that even though England were not in the match, the crowd’s enthusiasm was "immense". "We were all hoping and expecting, so it doesn't matter which teams are in the final.
I think the love for Rob, the support, the love for the MND community will shine through and I am incredibly proud of the way rugby league has come together again and continues to do, to look after its own, and it will be a really special night," he concluded. Rhodri Jones, the commercial managing director of the Rugby League and interim chief executive of the RFL, praised Sinfield’s contributions: "Sir Kevin is one of the most iconic names in Super League history. He is synonymous with Grand Final night and his remarkable endeavours, all those epic running challenges we have seen over the years in support of his great friend Rob Burrow and the MND community, remain an inspiration to us all.
As a competition, we are delighted he's now bringing the ball to the centre stage at Old Trafford ready for the biggest 80 minutes of the season when everything is on the line and the latest Betfred Super League champions are crowned. The whole sport of rugby league wishes Sir Kevin and all his team the very best on what promises to be yet another arduous and challenging seven days." The fundraising drive will benefit six charities: the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland, and the Irish MND Association.
Each organization will receive a share of the donations generated through the run, as well as through online contributions on Sinfield’s dedicated fundraising page. Supporters can donate directly via the online platform, which remains open for contributions throughout the week of the challenge.
The Super League play‑offs will commence on Friday, 18 September, with a series of televised matches leading up to the Grand Final: - Friday 18 September: Wakefield Trinity vs Leigh Leopards, kickoff 8 pm on Sky Sports - Saturday 19 September: Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR, kickoff 5:30 pm on Sky Sports - Semi‑Final 1 – Friday 25 September: Leeds Rhinos vs TBD, kickoff 8 pm on Sky Sports - Semi‑Final 2 – Saturday 26 September: Wigan Warriors vs TBD, kickoff 5:30 pm on Sky Sports These fixtures will be broadcast live, providing fans across the country with ample opportunity to follow the action and support Sinfield’s cause. The play‑offs will culminate in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October, where Sir Kevin will hand the ball to the competing teams, marking the end of his marathon journey and the beginning of one of the most anticipated matches of the rugby league calendar. In summary, Sir Kevin Sinfield’s final ultra‑marathon is more than a personal test of endurance; it is a heartfelt tribute to a cherished teammate, a powerful fundraising engine for vital MND research and support services, and a celebration of the rugby league community’s unity and generosity.
The combination of his athletic feat, the historic venues, and the ultimate presentation of the Grand Final ball ensures that this week will be remembered as a landmark moment in the sport’s modern history.