Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has voiced his anger that no rugby league player has ever been knighted - and called for the honour to be given to Kevin Sinfield. In an unusual exchange Sir Lindsay said it is a "major injustice" - and said he had raised the issue with Keir Starmer. He added that "now is the time" to knight fundraising hero Sinfield, who has raised more than £10million to combat motor neurone disease (MND). Sinfield and friend Rob Burrow, who died in June last year aged just 41, have been widely praised for their incredible efforts. There is a growing chorus demanding Sinfield, currently a coach with the England rugby union team, receives a knighthood, having been awarded a CBE last year. The Speaker's comments came after Labour MP David Baines, who chairs of the rugby league all party parliamentary group, thanked him for being a "great champion for the greatest game". Mr Baines said: "This year rugby league celebrates its 130th anniversary. In all this time, no one from the sport of rugby league has ever received the highest honour of a knighthood or a damehood. "Not one person in 130 years, despite having many worthy recipients and candidates fought for such honours, including the likes of Billy Boston, Alex Murphy and Kevin Sinfield. "Does [Commons Leader Lucy Powell] share my dismay and frustration and surprise at this oversight, and can she advise me on how best to raise this and who with, to ensure that our great game and some of the outstanding individuals who represent it receive the recognition that they deserve?" Ms Powell said Sir Lindsay would share some of Mr Baine's' views on the subject, adding that she "can't comment on individuals' right to get an honour" but it is "a surprise that they've not been honoured in the way that others have". She added: "I too, think that Kevin Sinfield has been the most incredible ambassador, not just for sport, but for charity [fund]raising, and he certainly would be somebody I think we should all consider." Sir Lindsay said: "I have also raised it with the Prime Minister, because there is a major injustice and the stigma against rugby league where not one person has ever knighted, but ... on behalf of what (Kevin Sinfield has) done, I would have thought now is the time and we wait no longer." Sinfield's most recent challenge, Running Home for Christmas, in December 2024, raised more than £1,016,000, according to his donation page. He ran 230 miles in just seven days. In 2023 he famously carried former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow, who was diagnosed with MBD in 2019, over the finish line at the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.