Rugby league in shock following death of ex-Wakefield Trinity, Hull FC coach John Kear
Rugby league was in shock today after the death was announced of one of its most well-known and respected figures, ex-Wakefield Trinity and Batley Bulldogs coach John Kear.
The RFL announced Kear’s passing in a social media statement this morning. It said: “The RFL today pays tribute to John Kear, who died suddenly on Sunday afternoon returning north from Wembley, having been part of the BBC’s commentary team for the Challenge Cup finals. Our thoughts and condolences are with John’s wife Dawn, his family and friends.”
Kear, 71, was born in Castleford and played for his hometown club before taking his first steps into coaching there. His initial job as head-coach was at Leeds outfit Bramley and he also had spells in charge of – among others – Paris SG, Sheffield Eagles, Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity, Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls and Widnes Vikings. He was an assistant at Wigan Warriors and coached France, England and Wales.
He hung up his tracksuit last year after a short return to Batley as interim-coach and this season was back at Wakefield as corporate host on matchdays. Kear was most noted for his feats in the Challenge Cup, masterminding Sheffield’s 1998 Wembley win against Wigan in the competition’s greatest upset and guiding Hull to the trophy when they beat Leeds Rhinos at Cardiff seven years later.
Equally impressive was the first of his two stints at Batley, when - despite a tiny playing budget - he took his team to the second-tier Grand Final. In 2006 he took charge of Trinity when they seemed doomed to relegation from Super League and inspired what became known as the ‘great escape’, securing survival thanks to victory over Castleford, who went down, in the final game of the season.
RFL chairman Nigel Wood 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.”
Former BBCand now Sky TV commentator Dave Wood was a close friend of Kear. He added: “This is devastating news for all of us, but especially for Dawn and for all of John’s family. 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.”