Rugby Union Coach Kevin Sinfield to Miss First England Test Against New Zealand
England’s kicking and skills coach Kevin Sinfield will be absent from the team’s first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin next Saturday. Sinfield has been granted leave by head coach Steve Borthwick to attend the funeral of his close friend and former Leeds Rhinos teammate, Rob Burrow, who passed away earlier this month after a prolonged battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
“The funeral is a week on Sunday,” he said. “It’s in Pontefract Crematorium, and it’s a private ceremony with family and friends. I’ll fly back on Friday, which unfortunately means I’ll miss the Test. I’ll be home for two days, then I’ll be back out here getting ready for the second Test.”
Borthwick has been fully understanding of Sinfield’s need to pay his respects, stating, “Steve (Borthwick) has been wonderfully supportive of that; he completely understands. I couldn’t have asked for any more.”
The past few weeks have been challenging for Sinfield, who has been balancing his coaching duties with the grief of losing Burrow. “It has been tough,” he admitted. “Rob passed on Sunday afternoon and on Monday we were in camp before we came out to Japan. At that point, you want to be with family and friends.”
Despite the personal heartache, Sinfield is finding solace in the support of the England squad and management team. “The lads have been fantastic – they’ve shown compassion and care for me that won’t go unnoticed. Steve and the management team have been wonderful, too.”
As England prepare for the first Test, Sinfield will have the opportunity to reunite with familiar faces from his rugby league days, including former coaches and teammates now based in New Zealand. “There are a lot of guys I played with who live out here, and some guys who coached me as well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to hooking up with them, sharing stories about Rob and remembering him in the right way.”
Sinfield’s future with the England set-up remains uncertain, as he grapples with the impact of Burrow’s passing on his career decisions. “We’ll see,” he said. “In the last couple of weeks, with what has happened with Rob, it has been given me plenty to think about again.”
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