Wigan Warriors chairman reacts to MBE - 'The biggest honour of my professional life'

Wigan Warriors chairman Professor Chris Brookes says being awarded an MBE for services to rugby league is the ‘biggest honour’ of his professional life.

The current Warriors chairman has been recognised in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours after more than 30 years of service to the sport in a variety of medical and leadership roles.

The honour acknowledges Professor Brookes’ work with the Rugby Football League and England Rugby League, alongside a distinguished NHS career in which he helped shape policy, advance knowledge and improve outcomes for countless individuals and organisations.

A former chief medical officer for both the RFL and England Rugby League, Brookes has played a leading role in advancing player welfare, brain health and medical standards within the sport. In 2023, he was added to the RFL’s Roll of Honour in recognition of his contribution to rugby league.

Speaking after learning of the award, Brookes reflected on the significance of receiving an honour specifically linked to the game that has been such a major part of his life.

“This is the biggest honour of my professional life to be appointed around this, especially because it’s all about rugby league.

“The citation says ‘for services to rugby league’ and rugby league has just been a huge part of my life for the past 30 years and the joy that I’ve got from giving that clinical care and medical care to players and that then being recognised in a small way in terms of what I’ve done over the years, so that bit about rugby league, I think how we’ve managed to make the game safer, the welfare of the players, the brain health and me playing a small part in that, and that’s something I’m really, really proud of.

“I think the game is in a better place now than it was, and I’ve seen how things have changed over the years, and that the welfare of players has been front and centre of everything.”

Brookes first became involved in rugby league in the mid-1990s and has witnessed significant changes in the way player care and safety are approached throughout the professional game.

While proud of his own contribution, he was keen to stress that rugby league itself was the real winner from the recognition.

“Rugby league has given me so much, I’ve given something back to it, and I’m just proud that’s being recognised, but more importantly, the fact that the game is being recognised for services to rugby league, which is a wonderful game with magnificent players who absolutely give their all every week.

“Most of all, the sport of rugby league is the winner and I’m just really grateful that I’ve just played a little part in it and I’m able to have it recognised on the national stage.”

The announcement came during an emotional period for the sport following the recent passing of iconic coach turned pundit John Kear.

Speaking at Wakefield’s DIY Kitchens Stadium on Friday night, Brookes paid tribute to one of rugby league’s most respected figures.

“We’re here at Wakefield and the last time we were here was for the Challenge Cup quarter-final and John Kear was upstairs speaking in the room,” Brookes added. “Rest in peace, John, a fantastic man, steeped in rugby league and the very best of people, so when I reflect on the happiness of my award today, I also think of John and his family, and that really humble man that did so much for our wonderful sport.”

Brookes also expressed his pride at being recognised alongside two other rugby league greats in the honours list.

Wakefield Trinity legend Neil Fox has seen his previous MBE upgraded to a CBE for services to rugby league and the community, while Leeds Rhinos icon Kevin Sinfield will become a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to rugby league and the motor neurone disease community.

“I am proud that my name has been announced in the King’s Honours list along with an upgrade in the honour of Neil Fox, the man of this (Wakefield) club, a hugely respected in rugby league and somebody who absolutely deserves the accolade he’s got,” he added.

“And of course my great friend Kevin Sinfield, who has been made a knight of the Realm - I can’t think of anybody else who deserves that more. For what he’s done, and the support he gave Rob (Burrow), all the stuff he’s done around motor neurone disease, raising the funds, and someone I’ve known from the Great Britain academy back in 1998, so it’s just wonderful to see.”