It was speculated last year that Whitehall sources told the national media that any recipient of an honour cannot have it upgraded within a three-year period.
That would appear to fit with Sinfield’s own personal timeline for his honours. He was first given an MBE in 2014 for services to rugby league, and then in 2021, was awarded an OBE for services to rugby league and charitable fundraising.
Then in the 2024 New Year’s Honours, that was upgraded to a CBE