Rugby league legend John Kear dies 'suddenly', a day after commentating on Challenge Cup final

Rugby league legend John Kear has died "suddenly", a day after commentating on the Challenge Cup final.

Kear, who was 71, was a former England, Wales and two-time Challenge Cup-winning coach.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) said in a statement that Kear "died suddenly on Sunday afternoon returning north from Wembley, having been part of the BBC's commentary team for the Betfred Challenge Cup Finals the previous day".

"Our thoughts and condolences are with John's wife Dawn, his family and friends," the RFL added.

Kear worked for nine different clubs during his career, which lasted more than 700 matches and included the national teams for England, Wales and France.

He won the Challenge Cup twice as a coach, firstly with Sheffield Eagles against Wigan in 1998 in perhaps the greatest shock in the 130-year history of the competition.

Kear was England head coach during the 2000 World Cup, leading them to the semi-finals, before heading to Hull FC, where he won his second Challenge Cup trophy against Leeds Rhinos in Cardiff in 2005.

He then spent five years in charge of Wakefield, most famously helping them avoid relegation and condemning his hometown club Castleford to the Championship.

In 2011, Kear took over at Batley and, after six seasons in charge, moved to coach Bradford Bulls after they were relegated to the Championship, and remained there until 2022.

Kear also had a long tenure in charge of Wales from 2014 until 2025, coaching them in 15 matches which saw them pick up seven wins, seven losses, and a draw.

Kear, who played for a decade as an outside back at Castleford before his long spell as a coach, returned to Batley for a short stint in 2025 before retiring.

Tributes to 'legendary coach'

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."

Dave Woods, the Sky Sports commentator who became a close personal friend of Kear's through their commentary partnership for the BBC, 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."

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Wakefield Trinity said "legendary" coach and broadcaster Kear would be "dearly missed", while Wigan Warriors said they were "deeply saddened to hear the news" of Kear's death.

Hull FC's chief operating officer Tony Sutton joined the tributes, adding: "He was a true rugby league man through and through, with a deep knowledge of the game, who always had time to stop for a chat whenever you saw him."

His club said Kear was a "loved and admired figure in West Hull and across the sport".

Castleford Tigers said in a statement Kear was a "Castleford lad" who turned down other offers "numerous times to stay loyal to his hometown" as they called him a "true one club man".

"He will be sorely missed by all who knew him," the club added.

(c) Sky News 2026: Rugby league legend John Kear dies 'suddenly', a day after commentating on Challenge Cup final