Former Hull FC head coach John Kear, who led the Black and Whites to one of the greatest days in the club’s modern history, has died suddenly at the age of 71.
Kear, one of the most respected figures in British rugby league, died on Sunday while travelling back from the Challenge Cup final between Wigan and Hull KR at Wembley Stadium.
He had been part of the BBC Sport commentary team for the match.
Kear guided Hull to Challenge Cup glory in 2005 with a dramatic 25-24 win over Leeds Rhinos at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The victory ended a 23-year wait for the club to lift the trophy and remains one of the defining moments in Hull FC’s recent history.
Kear arrived in East Yorkshire in the early 2000s as first-team coach under Shaun McRae, before taking over as head coach when McRae left for the NRL in 2005.
Although he had only one full season in charge of the Airlie Birds, it proved unforgettable, with Hull playing some of their finest rugby league of the modern era.
Their semi-final victory over St Helens at Huddersfield on the way to Cardiff is still widely regarded as one of the club’s best performances of the Super League era.
Kear left Hull midway through the following season but remained warmly regarded by the club and its supporters, with his place in Black and Whites history secured by that famous cup triumph.
His success with Hull came seven years after he had masterminded one of the biggest shocks in Challenge Cup history, when Sheffield Eagles beat Wigan at Wembley in the 1998 final.
Kear also had coaching spells with Wakefield Trinity, Bradford Bulls, Widnes Vikings, Paris Saint-Germain and Batley Bulldogs, and played a prominent role with Wales over more than a decade.
On the international stage, he coached England during the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and also led France and Great Britain Academy.
By the time he retired in 2025, Kear had taken charge of more than 700 games. He also became a familiar and highly respected voice as a broadcaster with the BBC.
His service to the sport was recognised with the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association’s 2025 Merit Award, as well as an Outstanding Contribution Award at last season’s Rugby League Awards Dinner.
Hull FC chief operating officer Tony Sutton said: “I, and everyone across the club, was deeply saddened to hear about John’s passing this morning; 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.
“Like many supporters and people associated with our club, the memories of John’s time with us, particularly that wonderful day at the Challenge Cup Final in Cardiff in 2005, will be in our minds today.
“I’m sure many will join us in thinking about John and his family today, and offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Hull FC said the thoughts and condolences of everyone at the club were with Kear’s wife Dawn and all his family and friends.
Hull KR said in a statement: “Hull KR are deeply saddened to learn the passing of rugby league legend, John Kear.
“Everyone at the club sends our thoughts and best wishes to John’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”