Last week, we were delighted to welcome Kevin Sinfield MBE to Bloxham.
Kevin played his entire professional rugby league career with Leeds Rhino’s and is one of the most successful players in Super League history, having captained the team to seven Super League championships and two Challenge Cup successes. He holds records as the highest points-scorer in Super League history and the third highest points-scorer in rugby league history. Kevin is also the only captain to ever lead a team to win three back to back Super League titles. His individual accolades include winning the Lance Todd Trophy (2005), Harry Sunderland Trophy (2009, 2012) and the Golden Boot (2012). In 2015 Kevin became the first rugby league player to be nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, finishing in second place behind Andy Murray.
Kevin came to talk to our senior students and staff about his career and the traits which he felt were important for getting through the rollercoaster (the title of his talk) of elite sport and life in general. These traits were discussed in eight themes: Choices, Hard Work, Perseverance, Self-Discipline, Leadership, Mental Toughness, Adversity and Enjoyment. The overriding theme was one of empowerment and ambition.
It was fantastic to have Kevin with us, he was in incredible speaker who was able to talk with complete relevance but also in a way which kept the audience gripped. At the end of the talk he took questions from the floor and also stayed behind to chat to staff and pupils.
‘It is important that our students understand the immense potential they have and crucially the power they have in shaping their own future. Kevin’s talk emphasized the importance of getting the basics right each day and his closing message of ‘not lowering your standards for anyone’, is such an important one for anyone to hear‘ Matt Bull ‘ Assistant Head (Co-Curricular).