Rugby league icon John Kear dies ‘suddenly’ one day after commentating on BBC coverage
Rugby league icon John Kear has died at the age of 71.
He was travelling back from the Challenge Cup final yesterday (31 May) when he died suddenly.
On Saturday, Kear had been part of the BBC Sport commentary team for the match between Wigan and Hull KR at Wembley Stadium in London.
The rugby legend was coach of the England team in the 2000 World Cup and spent 11 years as the boss at Wales as he led the team in the 2017 and 2021 World Cups.
Kear had a coaching career across nine clubs spanning over 700 matches, with spells at the likes of Hull FC and Sheffield Eagles.
The Yorkshireman had played for a decade as an outside back at Castleford before his long spell in the dugout, retiring in 2025 after a second stint at Batley.
Nigel Wood, chair of the RFL said: “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.
“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.
“But John was also 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.”
Jess Battison