Sir Kevin Sinfield is set to take on his seventh and final Super League Grand Final ball‑carrying mission, a role that will see him deliver the iconic match ball at Old Trafford on 3 October, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The former Leeds Rhinos captain and England leader is also preparing for what will be his most demanding charitable run to date, a week‑long ultra‑marathon designed to raise further awareness and financial support for the motor neurone disease (MND) community across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Since launching his first annual run in 2020, Sinfield and his team have generated more than £11 million for MND charities.
This year’s itinerary is particularly ambitious: he will complete an ultra‑marathon each day for seven consecutive days, beginning at the home of the world‑club champions Hull Kingston Rovers on Sunday, 27 September. From there he will travel to the stadiums of all twelve English Super League clubs, culminating in a final leg that ends at Old Trafford just before the Grand Final on Saturday, 3 October.
The symbolism of this final challenge is profound. Sinfield, who guided Leeds to seven Grand Final victories at the famed Theatre of Dreams, will hand over the match ball to the current generation of players who will battle for the title. He sees this as a chance to bring the story full circle, returning the ball to the rugby league community that has supported him and his friend Rob Burrow throughout the years.
Rob Burrow, the former Leeds star who was diagnosed with MND in 2019, famously scored what many consider the greatest Grand Final try ever during the 2011 final against St Helens at Old Trafford. For Sinfield, presenting the ball at that very venue is a fitting tribute. "I think it’s nice to bring it back home to the rugby league community.
This is where it all started for Rob," he told Sky Sports. He added, "To visit some venues where he terrorised opponents is particularly special and to finish at Old Trafford is great. Rob scored, in my opinion, the greatest Super League try, greatest Grand Final try ever. He won eight Grand Finals." Sinfield expressed excitement about returning to venues he knows well and where fans have shown overwhelming support over the past six years of his fundraising efforts.
He recalled the massive turnout at Old Trafford for the Rugby League World Cup final in 2022, noting that the crowd’s enthusiasm was immense even though England were not playing. "We were all hoping and expecting, so it doesn’t matter which teams are in the final," he said.
"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." Rhodri Jones, the commercial managing director of Rugby League and interim chief executive of the RFL, praised Sinfield’s contribution: "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." This year’s challenge will benefit six charities: the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland, and the Irish MND Association. Supporters can contribute via the dedicated fundraising page, which remains open for donations. The Super League play‑offs kick off on Friday, 18 September, with Wakefield Trinity hosting Leigh Leopards at 8 pm on Sky Sports.
The following day sees Warrington Wolves take on Hull KR at 5:30 pm. The semi‑finals are scheduled for 25 September (Leeds Rhinos versus a to‑be‑determined opponent) and 26 September (Wigan Warriors versus a to‑be‑determined opponent), both broadcast live on Sky Sports. The season will culminate in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October, where the match ball – hand‑delivered by Sir Kevin after his week‑long odyssey – will be presented to the players who will contest the championship. Sinfield’s seventh ultra‑marathon not only underscores his personal dedication but also highlights the rugby league community’s capacity to rally around a cause.
By traversing every English Super League venue, he will remind fans and players alike of the sport’s shared heritage and the collective responsibility to support those affected by MND. The combination of athletic endurance, charitable fundraising, and the ceremonial handing over of the Grand Final ball creates a narrative that intertwines sport, solidarity, and hope, ensuring that the legacy of both Sir Kevin and Rob Burrow endures long after the final whistle blows.