The NRL community is mourning the death of Welsh rugby league legend John Kear, who died just hours after commentating the Challenge Cup final between Wigan and Hull KR. Kear played 133 games for Castleford in the English Super League from 1978 to 1988, before going on to become a coaching legend.
As a coach he had stints at Hull, Wakefield Trinity, Bradford and Widnes, amassing over 700 games in charge and winning two Challenge Cups. He also coached the Wales, England and France teams at Test level.
John Kear (L) died just hours after calling the Challenge Cup final (R) for the BBC. Image: Johnathan Davies/Getty
He also had a successful broadcast career and was in commentary for BBC during the Challenge Cup final on Saturday at Wembley in London. But it was announced on Monday the 71-year-died on Sunday afternoon while travelling back north.
Nigel Wood, chair of the Rugby Football League, said in a statement: “On behalf of the whole sport, our thoughts and condolences are with John’s wife Dawn, his family and with those who played or worked alongside him over the last 50 years.
John Kear at the Rugby League World Cup in 2021.
(Alex Livesey)
“Having had a 10-year career at Castleford, he found his passion for coaching which saw him oversee more than 700 games across a career which included coaching England in the 2000 World Cup, Wales in the 2017 and 2021 World Cup, oversaw Challenge Cup victories at Sheffield Eagles and Hull FC, and most recently took Batley Bulldogs to the Championship grand final.
“John was an excellent broadcast summariser with a great turn of phrase and an undiluted love and positivity for the sport. It was always a pleasure to see John, at Wakefield Trinity games most recently, as he was full of energy and enthusiasm for the game he clearly loved and had given him so much, in the same way he had given back.”
Tributes flow after death of John Kear
Fellow commentator Dave Woods, who was a close friend of Kear, said: “This is devastating news for all of us, but especially for Dawn and for all of John’s family, and I’m sure the whole sport will join me in sending our deepest condolences.
“He was a great rugby league man, the most passionate and eloquent of evangelists for the sport, who relished the opportunity to do that on radio and television for the BBC. But I’ll remember him as simply the best of blokes, humble, friendly, cheerful, always smiling, always happy to talk to anyone, especially about rugby league.”
Former Sheffield hooker Johnny Lawless told the Press Association: “I’m totally devastated. He had a massive impact on, not just my career, but my life as well.
“How he managed people was like no other. I was just one of probably thousands of people who he touched within the game. He’s going to be greatly missed.”