Former rugby league star, coach and broadcaster John Kear has died at the age of 71.The Rugby Football League (RFL) confirmed the news that Kear passed away suddenly on Sunday afternoon while travelling back north following the Challenge Cup Final.He had been working as part of the BBC’s commentary team the previous day during the match between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR at Wembley. Kear was one of rugby league’s most admired and respected figures after a coaching career spanning over 700 matches including two famous victories in the Challenge Cup final. He had spells in charge of Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls but his greatest achievement came with Sheffield Eagles in 1998 as they defeated Wigan in the Challenge Cup in what is perhaps the biggest shock of the 130-year history of the competition. Kear later led Hull to victory in the same competition, beating Leeds Rhinos in the 2005 final in Cardiff. Most recently he had two stints with Batley Bulldogs before finally retiring at the end of last season. John Kear won the Challenge Cup with Hull in 2005 having also provided the biggest shock of the competition by coaching Sheffield Eagles to victory over Wigan Warriors in 1998 (Getty)Kear also coached England during the 2000 World Cup and took them to the semi-finals before spending 11 years as head coach of Wales with appearances at both the 2017 and 2021 World Cup tournaments. During his playing career, Kear made 133 appearances for hometown club Castleford between 1978 and 1988 before he subsequently moved into coaching. Perhaps surprisingly, one club he never coached were his beloved Castleford Tigers, having been born and raised close to the club’s ground on Wheldon Road, and making over 100 appearances for them in his playing career as an outside back. RFL chair, 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.” Kear coached several rugby league clubs during his career and led the Wales national team for 11 years (Getty)Rugby League commentator Dave Woods, and close friend of Kear, added: “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.”