Sinfield for SPOTY: Love Rugby League’s campaign starts here
Kevin Sinfield has been nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2015, the very first rugby league player to receive the honour.
As this kind of thing doesn’t happen very often in rugby league, we at Love Rugby League feel that it would be great if everyone could back Sinfield, and make the most of the chance to put our game in the national spotllight.
Rugby league as a whole in the UK has not had too bad a year, and it would be nice if the rejuvenation of our sport could flicker properly into life on the national stage.
Thanks to statistician and actuary Clive Lewis (BSC, MMATH, Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries), we are able to offer a clear path to Kevin’s victory for rugby league fans to follow.
Lewis explains it thus:
“Of the shortlist of 12 there are 5 with a realistic chance of winning – Andy Murray, Kevin Sinfield, Jessica Ennis, Tyson Fury and Lewis Hamilton. Unlike other years where there has been an overwhelming favourite, this means that the vote will be spread across a number of contenders.
“In addition, in a non-Olympic year, the number of votes cast is expected to be low this year, meaning that total votes across all candidates will be around 600,000.
“Given that Kevin is likely to receive at least 50,000 votes without a campaign, then a bit of a push with your readership should help him win.
“Votes are only 10p so multiple voting by landline is affordable and possible by landline – note that voters are allowed one free app vote (but multi voting is not possible by the app)
“My estimate of the winning number of votes this year is 250,000.
“Put simply, if everyone who went to the Grand Final voted 4 times, then this would secure victory
“Or another way, if five percent of the television audience for the Challenge Cup final voted 3 times, that would also secure victory.
“Two of the contenders in Murray and Hamilton have already won the award, meaning that their votes could be affected.
“In addition, I understand that Murray will not be attending the show in person as he will be training in Miami.
“Kevin is the first rugby league player to be nominated, so this is the first opportunity the sport has had to have a winner.
“A similar campaign resulted in St Helen’s winning team of the year in 2006 (when the team of the year was a public vote).”
So, there it is in black and white.
If every rugby league fan reading this page now takes the time to vote in the poll, Kevin Sinfield could be crowned as BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2015.
In a year when the England team won some silverware for the first time in ages, and the sport began to garner something of a national profile once again, it would be great to top off 2015 with some individual glory that we can all share in.
Voting for the winner takes place on December 20 and votes can be cast by phone or online. The number to call for each contender will be revealed during the programme. There is no voting via email, Red Button or by text.
#voteKev