A total of 46 sporting stars have been including in the New Year's Honours List for 2026 but rugby league hero Kevin Sinfield is not amongst them. Sinfield recently earned plaudits for his work raising money for motor neurone disease (MND) charities and many called for him to be knighted.

With the names of those honoured revealed, Sinfield, who has raised over £11million for charity, has not been included. He was handed an MBE in 2014, an OBE in 2021 and a CBE in 2024. It was this last honour that it has been suggested has prevented him from receiving a knighthood.

As per protocol, honours supposedly cannot be upgraded for three years after they are awarded, meaning Sinfield would have to wait another 12 months before becoming eligible.

A host of other sporting talents have been honoured however, including presenter Gabby Logan. Commentator Clive Tyldesley and former long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe are also on the list.

Five members of the England Lionesses have kicked off 2026 in style, being included in the list for their contributions to football. Manager Sarina Wiegman, who has been bestowed an honorary damehood, is joined by team captain Leah Williamson. Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh have also been recognised.

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Christopher Dean, OBE, Olympic gold medallist, services to ice skating and to voluntary service, Huddersfield.

Jayne Torvill, OBE, Olympic gold medallist, services to ice skating and to voluntary service, Heathfield, East Sussex.

Sarina Wiegman (honorary damehood), England women head coach, for services to football.

Daniel Levy, former Tottenham executive chairman, for services to charity and the community of Tottenham, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

Leah Williamson, England captain and double women's European Championship winner, for services to football, St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Fergus McCann, former Celtic chief executive, businessman and philanthropist, for services to the economy and charity, Florida.

Derek Brewer, lately England and Wales Cricket Board adviser, for services to cricket, Loughborough, Leicestershire.

Ann Budge, former Hearts chair, for services to sport and the community in Midlothian, Edinburgh.

Jim Craig, former Celtic defender and member of the European Cup winning Lisbon Lions side of 1967, for services to Scottish football and charity, Perth and Kinross.

Gabby Logan, MBE, broadcaster, for services to broadcasting and to charity, Buckinghamshire.

John Mitchell, England women's rugby head coach, for services to rugby union, Woking, Surrey.

Barry O'Brien, former England and Wales Cricket Board interim chair and former Glamorgan chair, for services to law, to cricket and to charity, London.

Marlie Packer, double women's Rugby World Cup winner with England, for services to rugby union, Camberley, Surrey.

Sarah-Jane Perry, England and Great Britain squash player, grassroots champion and mentor, for services to squash, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

Stuart Pringle, Silverstone circuit chief executive officer, for services to motorsport, Towcester, Northamptonshire.

Paula Radcliffe, MBE, broadcaster and athlete, for services to sport, abroad.

Zoe Stratford (nee Aldcroft), England women's rugby captain and 2025 women's Rugby World Cup winner, for services to rugby union, Gloucester.

Clive Tyldesley, football commentator, for services to broadcasting and to charity, Reading.

Gill Whitehead, 2025 women's Rugby World Cup chair, for services to women's rugby, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

Dr Frances Akor, UK anti-doping non-executive director, for services to sport, London.

Susan Briegal, lately World Netball chief executive officer and North West Rowing Council chair, for services to sport, Warrington.

Daniel Costello, Spartan Football Club chair, for services to community, sport and youth development, Edinburgh.

Kerry Davis, former England Women footballer, for services to football and diversity in sport, Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Simone Fisher, Professional Footballers' Association director of equality, diversity and inclusion, for services to sport, Sunbury-on-Thames.

Alex Greenwood, England footballer and double women's European Championship winner, for services to football, Wilmslow, Cheshire.

Isa Guha, broadcaster and former England cricketer, Take Her Lead founder and chair, for services to inclusivity and cricket, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Megan Jones, England women's rugby player and 2025 women's Rugby World Cup winner, for services to rugby union, London.

Tara Jones, rugby league referee, services to rugby league, St Helens.

Sadia Kabeya, England women's rugby player and 2025 women's Rugby World Cup winner, for services to rugby union, London.

James Keothavong, tennis umpire, services to tennis and tennis umpiring, Bedford.

Louise Kingsley, Great Britain rowing team director of performance, services to sport, Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

Ellie Kildunne, England women's rugby player and 2025 women's Rugby World Cup winner, for services to rugby union, Reading.

David Laing, lately Borders Disability Sports Group chair, for services to sport, Roxburgh.

Julia Lee, lately referee and advocate for women's rugby league, for services to rugby league, Huddersfield.

Sarah Massey, 2025 women's Rugby World Cup managing director, for services to women's rugby union, Street, Somerset.

Rhys McClenaghan, BEM, artistic gymnastic and pommel horse Olympic champion, services to gymnastics, Newtownards, County Down.

Dr Ritan Mehta, England women's football head of medical and team team, services to football, London.

David Perks, services to athletics, Carmarthen.

Kambiz Ramzan Ali, services to taekwondo and the community in Harrogate, Harrogate.

Toby Roberts, sport climbing Olympic champion, services to sport climbing, Godalming, Surrey.

Georgia Stanway, England footballer and double women's European Championship winner, services to football, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Ella Toone, England footballer and double women's European Championship winner, services to football, Manchester.

Nigel Travis, BEM, services to boxing and the community in Moss Side, Greater Manchester.

Keira Walsh, England footballer and double women's European Championship winner, services to football, Rochdale.

Colin Wright, Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy co-founder, Sandhurst, Berkshire.

Marie Wright, Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy co-founder, Sandhurst, Berkshire.