Rugby league icon John Kear has passed away at the age of 71. The well-known former coach of England, Sheffield, Hull, Wakefield, Batley, Bradford, and Widnes had provided commentary for the BBC during the Challenge Cup final on Saturday before his sudden death on Sunday afternoon.
Kear had a successful ten-year playing career as a threequarter at Castleford before transitioning into coaching with Bramley in 1992. He later moved to French team PSG and then joined Sheffield Eagles, where he achieved a significant milestone by leading the team to victory over Wigan in the 1998 Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
His coaching career also included guiding Hull FC to a Challenge Cup triumph in 2005. Following his tenure at Hull, Kear managed Wakefield for five years before coaching at Batley, Bradford, and Widnes in the lower leagues.
Additionally, Kear led the England national team to the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup in 2000. The Rugby Football League (RFL) paid tribute to Kear, acknowledging his sudden passing after his involvement in BBC’s coverage of the Betfred Challenge Cup Finals.
Throughout his extensive coaching career spanning over 700 matches, Kear was widely respected and admired within the rugby league community. He was instrumental in Wakefield Trinity’s survival and also had coaching roles with various national teams, including France, England, and Wales.
Despite his numerous coaching roles, Kear never coached his beloved Castleford Tigers, a team he had close ties to from his playing days. He was a familiar face on BBC broadcasts, particularly for his commentary on the Challenge Cup matches.
Following the news of Kear’s passing, Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC expressed their deep sorrow and offered condolences to his family and friends. Hull FC highlighted Kear’s pivotal role in leading the team to victory in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final and praised his contributions to the sport over the decades.