2 days ago
John Kear, nan rugby convention broadcaster and erstwhile Challenge Cup-winning coach, has died astatine nan property of 71. The Rugby Football League announced that Kear died abruptly connected Sunday connected his return from covering Wigan’s Challenge Cup victory astatine Wembley for nan BBC.
Kear led 9 clubs crossed a coaching profession lasting much than 700 matches, masterminding a daze triumph for Sheffield Eagles successful 1998 and past steering Hull FC to glory successful 2005.
Kear, who played for a decade arsenic an extracurricular backmost astatine Castleford earlier his agelong spell successful nan dugout, retired from coaching successful 2025 aft a 2nd stint astatine Batley. The Yorkshireman besides tried his manus astatine world level, coaching England, Wales and France complete nan people of his career.
Nigel Wood, chair of nan RFL said: “On behalf of nan full sport, our thoughts and condolences are pinch John’s woman Dawn, his family and pinch those who played aliases worked alongside him complete nan past 50 years.
“Having had a 10-year profession astatine Castleford, he recovered his passion for coaching which saw him oversee much than 700 games crossed a profession which included coaching England successful nan 2000 World Cup, Wales successful nan 2017 and 2021 World Cup, oversaw Challenge Cup victories astatine Sheffield Eagles and Hull FC, and astir precocious took Batley Bulldogs to nan Championship Grand Final.
“But John was besides an fantabulous broadcast summariser pinch a awesome move of building and an undiluted emotion and positivity for nan sport.
“It was ever a pleasance to spot John, astatine Wakefield Trinity games astir recently, arsenic he was afloat of power and enthusiasm for nan crippled he intelligibly loved and had fixed him truthful much, successful nan aforesaid measurement he had fixed back.”
Hull FC’s main operating serviceman Tony Sutton joined nan tributes, adding: “He was a existent rugby convention man done and through, pinch a heavy knowledge of nan game, who ever had clip to extremity for a chat whenever you saw him.
“Like galore supporters and group associated pinch our club, nan memories of John’s clip pinch us, peculiarly that awesome time astatine nan Challenge Cup last successful Cardiff successful 2005, will beryllium successful our minds today.
“I’m judge galore will subordinate america successful reasoning astir John and his family today, and connection our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
