Funeral Service for John Kear
The funeral of John Kear, former England and Wales rugby league coach and esteemed broadcaster, was held recently.
Friends, family members, and former players convened in Penistone, South Yorkshire, for the service at St John's Church.
Born in Castleford, Kear passed away on 1 June and was widely recognized throughout his career, notably for leading Sheffield Eagles to their unexpected 1998 Challenge Cup final victory over Wigan.
Tributes from Former Players and Colleagues
Mark Aston, a former Eagles player who was part of the title-winning team, reflected on Kear's impact, stating:
"Everything about John was just perfect, his smile, his knowledge of rugby league, you can see that by the tributes put out there for John."
Aston described Kear as a father figure to his players, emphasizing the close relationships he maintained off the field:
"We talk about what he did on the field, but there were things off the field that he did, and how close everybody was to him,"
"When times were tough he was still positive, that's how he was as a coach... he made people believe in the game, he made people believe in what they were doing."
He further characterized Kear as a "top man" who would be "well and truly missed."
Tim Adams, former chairman of Sheffield Eagles, described Kear as an "inspiration for us all." He recalled their friendship and Kear's meticulous approach:
"We were good friends. He was an extraordinary bloke, very meticulous, his planning was unbelievable.
He was a wonderful motivator of people, he didn't only motivate the players... but he also motivated the people in the club, the staff, the board of directors."
Adams recounted his initial skepticism when Kear predicted winning the cup, saying:
"I thought he was 'bonkers' when he told me he would win them the cup, but he did it."
He added that Kear was a "really genuinely nice guy" and a "great advocate for rugby league," concluding:
"He'll be remembered forever."
Paul Broadbent, former captain of the club, recalled Kear's faith in him:
"John were the one that had faith in me, he made me the guy who was going to lead the guys out, it was an outstanding day for us."
He described the cup win as a "real moment of triumph" for Kear.
The Eagles issued a statement earlier this month, noting that Kear would "always be remembered as the coach who delivered our finest hour."
Career Highlights and Legacy
During his playing career, Kear made 133 appearances for his hometown club Castleford between 1978 and 1988 before transitioning into coaching.
He became one of rugby league's most respected figures, coaching over 700 matches with clubs including Bradford Bulls, Hull FC, and Wakefield Trinity.
Kear led Hull FC to a surprise Challenge Cup victory in 2005, defeating Leeds Rhinos in the final held at Cardiff.
On the international stage, he guided England to the semi-finals of the 2000 World Cup and spent 11 years coaching Wales, leading them at the 2017 and 2021 World Cups.
The Rugby Football League released a statement earlier this month, expressing that Kear "was loved and admired throughout the sport and well beyond."
Kear was part of the commentary team for the match between Wigan and Hull KR at Wembley Stadium the day before his passing.
