John Kear Dies at 71 After 700-Match Rugby League Coaching Career

11 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 1

John Kear, the former England and Wales coach and BBC commentator, died on Sunday aged 71 while returning from the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, where he had worked on the broadcast.
More than 700 matches defined a coaching career that included Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls, with Kear most celebrated for Sheffield Eagles' shock 1998 Challenge Cup win over Wigan and Hull FC's 2005 triumph.
England reached the 2000 World Cup semi-finals under Kear, and Wales later spent 11 years under his charge, including the 2017 and 2021 World Cups.
The Rugby Football League said Kear was "loved and admired throughout the sport," while BBC colleague Dave Woods called him a passionate, eloquent advocate for rugby league.
Kear had also played 133 games for Castleford from 1978 to 1988 and retired from coaching with Batley Bulldogs at the end of last season.

What was John Kear's secret formula for turning underdog rugby league teams into champions?

As Super League eyes an NRL takeover, what can it learn from John Kear's legacy?