Rugby League Coach and BBC Commentator John Kear Dies Aged 71

His coaching career spanned more than 700 matches. He coached Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls, and guided Sheffield Eagles to a Challenge Cup final victory over Wigan in 1998. He later led Hull FC to a Challenge Cup triumph in 2005, beating Leeds Rhinos in the final at Cardiff.

Kear was coach of the England team at the 2000 World Cup and took them to the semi-finals. He spent 11 years in charge of Wales and led the side at the 2017 and 2021 World Cups. As a player, Kear made 133 appearances for Castleford between 1978 and 1988 before moving into coaching.

He retired from coaching at Batley Bulldogs at the end of last season. Nigel Wood, chair of the RFL, said that after his 10-year playing career at Cas, Kear had found his passion for coaching. Wood added that Kear was an excellent broadcast summariser with a great turn of phrase and an undiluted love and positivity for the sport.

Wood offered thoughts and condolences on behalf of the sport to Kear's wife Dawn, his family, and those who played or worked alongside him over the last 50 years. Dave Woods, a BBC commentator who worked with Kear and became a close friend, said Kear 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.

Woods said he would remember Kear as simply the best of blokes, humble, friendly, cheerful, always smiling, always happy to talk to anyone, especially about rugby league.

The article was published on 1 June 2026 at 09:22 BST.