Rugby league legend Kear dies aged 71

Chair of the Rugby Football League 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.

Commentator Dave Woods, who worked with Kear at the BBC ad became a close friend said: "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."