Rugby league great John Kear has died suddenly while travelling home from the Challenge Cup final.
The former England coach died on Sunday afternoon (Monday NZT) returning north from Wembley, having been part of the BBC’s commentary team for finals day the previous afternoon.
Kear, 71, was best known for masterminding Sheffield Eagles’ first and only Challenge Cup triumph against Wigan in 1998, arguably the biggest shock in the competition’s 130-year history.
He also led Hull FC to their third victory in the showpiece event when they beat Leeds Rhinos in Cardiff in 2005, and was assistant to Mal Reilly when Castleford Tigers last won in 1986.
The latter triumph came while he was still a player at Castleford, his hometown club, for whom he made 133 appearances between 1978 and 1988.
