Kevin Sinfield Autobiography – Extra Mile

Release date	25th May 2023
Author	Kevin Sinfield
Publisher	Penguin Books
Genre	Autobiography/Sports
Man5hit Rating

Kevin Sinfield’s autobiography, “The Extra Mile,” reveals that he’s far from your average sportsman. From his iconic status with Leeds Rhinos to coaching England, he’s a legend in both rugby codes. Yet, what truly distinguishes him is his remarkable journey of fundraising for his mate Rob Burrow and Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Even if you lean towards Union rather than League, Sinfield’s autobiography guides you through his playing career. It highlights his exploits in the 13-man code: rising through the Leeds Rhinos academy to captaining the side to seven Grand Final victories. Sinfield also talks at length about his inspiring charity work within MND. It’s amazing to think that this work has arguably earned him even greater fame than his rugby.

Sinfield opens up about his Lancashire roots and his move to Yorkshire and Leeds Rhinos, talking about the huge support from his parents. Throughout his sterling playing career, he totted up an impressive legacy with over 500 games for Leeds Rhinos, a stellar international career, and, we’ll mention it again, seven Grand Final triumphs. Not too shabby, right?

When it comes to his move into union, Sinfield doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges in his book. Despite landing significant roles like defence coach for Leicester and England, he shares the hurdles he faced and expresses gratitude for the support he received, particularly from the Leicester coaching staff.

Initially, he contemplated quitting the Tigers, feeling overwhelmed by the differing tactics, set pieces and the minefield of the breakdown. However, Sinfield’s tenacity prevailed, and he earned a huge amount of respect for his contributions, including revolutionising training methods to prioritise quality over quantity. The days of smashing into teammates/equipment consistently became a thing of the past.

The issue of head trauma in rugby is currently very topical, with ongoing legal cases involving former players. While Sinfield experienced his fair share of knocks, he maintains a neutral stance, expressing discomfort with retrospective scrutiny of his career.

Amidst the rugby topics, Sinfield’s charity work for Rob Burrow and MND shines as a beacon of hope. His journey began when he noticed changes in Burrow’s speech, eventually leading to a heartbreaking MND diagnosis. Sinfield refused to “stand idly by”, embarking on a mission to raise funds through extreme challenges. Stand he did not…..he ran!

Sinfield pledged to raise enough cash to support Burrow’s family, using the shirt number of Burrow’s he set out on running seven marathons in seven days and seven Ultras in seven days. Aiming to raise £77,777, his work with all the good press it received that figure snowballed into £7.5m for MND, raising the profile of the illness and forcing the government to honour their investment pledge.

His efforts not only contribute to MND research but also serve as a source of inspiration for the community, reminding others that they’re not alone. Sinfield’s story is a testament to the power of determination, urging readers to believe that anything is possible with resilience and resolve. Hats off to Sir Kev!