The rugby league legend has missed out on a place on the 2026 New Year Honours list with several other famous faces honouredSinfield has missed out on a knighthood despite huge public support(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)

The 2026 New Year Honours list has been revealed in full, with famous faces from across the worlds of sport, politics and the arts among those to be honoured.

Among the headline appointments made by King Charles III and the Honours Committee is actor and rapper Idris Elba receiving a knighthood for services to young people, having founded a charity to empower and educate youth, as well as launching campaigns to tackle knife crime.

Also being made a Sir is legendary ice dancer Christopher Dean, with his skate partner Jayne Torvill being awarded a damehood, alongside comedian and actress Meera Syal.

Elsewhere in the world of entertainment, actor Warwick Davis, comedian Matt Lucas and presenter Richard Osman have all been made OBEs, while MBEs have been awarded to comedian Bill Bailey, actress Sally Lindsay, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo and chef Marcus Wareing.

Several notable appointments have been made in the world of sport, with broadcasters Gabby Logan and Clive Tyldesley picking up OBEs alongside former marathon runner Paula Radcliffe. Following their Euros win, England women’s captain Leah Williamson has been made a CBE, with teammates Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh all being awarded OBES.

England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup-winning side has also been recognised, with head coach John Mitchell, Marlie Packer and Zoe Aldcroft being made OBEs and Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kebaya becoming MBEs.

Welsh rugby legend Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies has been made a CBE for his remarkable charity fundraising work, while former Treorchy front rower Chris Jones has been made an MBE for his three decades of service to Rhondda Schools Rugby.

However, there is one notable omission from the world of rugby in the latest honours list, with Kevin Sinfield missing out despite growing public calls for the Leeds Rhino legend to receive a knighthood.

The rugby league icon has raised over £11 million for research and support for sufferers of motor neurone disease (MND), after his close friend and former Leeds teammate Rob Burrow was diagnosed with the disease in 2019.

Having vowed to keep fundraising until a cure for MND has been found, Sinfield completed his latest gruelling challenge earlier this month, running seven ultramarathons of at least 28 miles in seven days across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The superhuman feat raised over £1 million alone and drew support from Prince William, who reached out to the rugby star with a personal text message.

However, despite the royal backing and over 50,000 people signing a petition calling for him to be knighted, Sinfield has missed out on receiving a honour in this year’s list.

His omission was expected, however, with the Rhinos legend believed to have been barred from becoming a knight due to protocol rules, which can prevent honours from being upgraded for three years after they are awarded.

Having previously been awarded an MBE and OBE, Sinfield received a CBE in the 2024 New Years Honours list, meaning he will likely have to wait until next year before becoming eligible for a knighthood.

However, there have been widespread calls from politicians and campaigners for the existing protocols to be waived, with Piers Morgan and Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle among those calling for Sinfield to be knighted anyway.

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