Rugby league coach and broadcaster John Kear dies at 71

John Kear, a revered rugby league coach and broadcaster, has died at the age of 71. The Rugby Football League confirmed he passed away suddenly on Sunday afternoon while traveling home from Wembley Stadium, where he had been part of the BBC's commentary team for the Challenge Cup final the previous day.

Kear's coaching career spanned more than 700 games across nine clubs, but he was best known for orchestrating two of the sport's most famous Challenge Cup victories. In 1998, he masterminded a monumental upset as coach of the Sheffield Eagles, who defeated the formidable Wigan Warriors at Wembley. He repeated the feat in 2005, leading Hull FC to a dramatic 25-24 win over Leeds Rhinos in Cardiff to secure the club's third Challenge Cup title.

His long career in the sport began with a ten-year playing stint as a three-quarter for Castleford. He moved into coaching with Bramley in 1992 and later had a spell with French club PSG. After his historic successes with Sheffield and Hull, Kear spent five years as head coach of Wakefield Trinity. He later led second-tier clubs Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, and Widnes Vikings, retiring from coaching after a second spell with Batley at the...