I miss rugby league every day, says Sinfield

Photo: Darren Robinson

STAR SIGNING: Kevin Sinfield pens a message in his new book at Waterstones in Spindles, flanked by young fans Peter White and Buckley Kershaw, both of whom play for the ex-Leeds Rhinos star’s former amateur club Waterhead at under-10s level.

KEVIN Sinfield admits he misses it “every single day” and has every intention of returning to rugby league — but insists he has no regrets over his code switch.

The former England captain brought down the curtain on his illustrious career in the 13–man game in October after leading Leeds to the treble. He is now four months into his new life as rugby union player with Yorkshire Carnegie.

Sinfield, whose new book on his league career is out, had intended to support the Rhinos from the stand once he quit as a player, but reveals he has so far attended only one game.

“I went to the World Club Challenge, which was quite difficult to watch,” said Sinfield. “It’s tough, because I miss playing rugby league every single day and I will for the rest of my life, I’m sure.

“I played with a number of the players for 10 or 15 years and those bonds will never leave. It’s been quite difficult getting the right balance between being there and giving each other a break from it.”

Sinfield, who reveals in his book he had planned to quit the Rhinos at the end of 2016 had he stayed on, says he is still getting to grips with the 15–man game.

Contracted for another season with Bryan Redpath’s men, he has no definite retirement date in mind, but concedes he would love to test himself in the Premiership.

Carnegie are virtually guaranteed a place in the Championship promotion play–offs and on Sunday Sinfield kicked four goals in a 33–32 win over Jersey that puts them through to the final of the B&I Cup.

“I’m getting better,” Sinfield said of his fly–half role. “I’m learning. I’m still making plenty of mistakes, as you could imagine for somebody who had never played a game in his life.

“I’ve really enjoyed the challenge. To have something like this at 35 has opened my eyes a bit.

“It looks very similar to rugby league, but when you start playing it’s so, so different. I’ve played league since I was seven and to suddenly break down some of those instincts and start to find fresh ones is very, very difficult. It's been testing, but I’m glad I did it.”



KEVIN Sinfield’s achievements in rugby league were recognised with his nomination for 2015 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. He finished runner-up behind tennis ace Andy Murray.

It seems appropriate then that a biography has followed, though he admits he took some persuading to put pen to paper.

“I have to say it was not something I fancied doing at all, certainly not while I was playing,” said Sinfield, who hopes to put his masters degree in sport business to good use in rugby league when he finally hangs up his boots.

“But when it finished like it did at the Grand Final, I got another approach from the publisher with the specific idea of telling my rugby league career with pictures and it felt like a really good time to reflect on my career.”

Anyone expecting a warts–and–all tale on the lines of the autobiographies from the likes of Sean Long, Adrian Morley and Gareth Hock will be in for a big disappointment.

“I don’t have any skeletons in the closet or any crazy, wacky stories to tell,” Sinfield said. “I’ve had plenty of fun, but I’ve been pretty straight laced.”