Rugby league icon John Kear dies aged 71
The Rugby Football League has paid tribute to Kear, who retired from Batley Bulldogs last season, following his death on Sunday.
John Kear, a former coach of the England and Wales rugby league teams and a prominent broadcaster, has died at the age of 71. The Rugby Football League (RFL) confirmed his passing on Sunday, noting that he died while travelling back from the Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
Kear was serving as part of the BBC Sport commentary team for the match between Wigan and Hull KR at the time of his death. He had recently retired from his role as head coach at Batley Bulldogs at the conclusion of the previous season, ending a coaching career that spanned more than 700 matches across clubs including Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity, and Bradford Bulls.
In a statement, the RFL described Kear as "loved and admired throughout the sport and well beyond". RFL chair Nigel Wood highlighted Kear’s transition from a 10-year playing career at Castleford, where he made 133 appearances between 1978 and 1988, to his subsequent success in coaching and broadcasting. Wood noted that Kear found his passion for coaching after his playing days and was regarded as an excellent broadcast summariser with a "great turn of phrase".
Kear’s managerial tenure included significant achievements, such as guiding Sheffield Eagles to a Challenge Cup victory over Wigan in 1998 and leading Hull FC to a triumph against Leeds Rhinos in 2005. On the international stage, he coached England to the semi-finals of the 2000 World Cup and spent 11 years in charge of Wales, overseeing their campaigns in the 2017 and 2021 tournaments.
Commentator and close friend Dave Woods, who worked alongside Kear at the BBC, paid tribute to his character. Woods described Kear as "the most passionate and eloquent of evangelists for the sport" but recalled him personally as "humble, friendly, cheerful, always smiling". The RFL extended its condolences to Kear’s wife, Dawn, his family, and colleagues across the sport.
