Former Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield has expressed his pride at his nomination for Sports Personality of the Year, and is glad to see Rugby League finally get some recognition at the famous event.
Sinfield became the first ever Rugby League player to be nominated for the award on Monday, when he was named on a 12-strong shortlist to win the award.
And, speaking to the Rhinos’ official website, Sinfield admits that whilst it’s great to receive the nomination on a personal level, the nomination represents a great opportunity for the sport to get some exposure.
“It’s been great, I’ve been really surprised by it,” he said.
“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing and I’ve got loads of really nice messages from people – it’s a really proud moment for me.
“It’s nice for myself but to get some recognition for the club with what we did in 2015 with the treble is fantastic. But then to get some recognition for Rugby League, to make some inroads and make some strides forward, it’s really special to be amongst so many great players.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity; we’ve all watched the shows over the years and been disappointed by the amount of time Rugby League gets, so hopefully this time we’ll get a bit more, especially with the Rhinos achieving what we did in such a special year.
“To be highlighted or nominated within that all is something I’m very proud of. I’m proud of the team’s achievements and hopefully we’ll get a bit more time on TV this year.”