Elliot Kear
 | ||||||
| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 29 November 1988 Cardiff, Wales | |||||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[1] | |||||
| Weight | 88 kg (13 st 12 lb)[1] | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Rugby league | ||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing, Centre | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2009–11 | Crusaders RL | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 2010(DR) | South Wales Scorpions | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 2012–14 | Bradford Bulls | 59 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 84 |
| 2015– | London Broncos | 43 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 56 |
| Total | 137 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 180 | |
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2009–16 | Wales | 21 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Rugby union | ||||||
| Position | Wing, Fullback | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2014–15 | London Welsh | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| As of 15 October 2016 | ||||||
| Source: Rugby League Project | ||||||
Elliot Kear (born 29 November 1988) is a professional rugby league player for the London Broncos in the Kingstone Press Championship and has played 18 times for Wales in the European competitions, 2011 Four Nations and the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
He previously played rugby league for Super League club Bradford Bulls, and rugby union for London Welsh in the Aviva Premiership. Kear is an international player having played for Wales 18 times.
Early life
Kear attended Whitchurch High School in his hometown Cardiff and was in the same year as Sam Warburton and Gareth Bale.[2] He excelled in a number of sports while in school. He also represented Cardiff schools at rugby union and played for the Cardiff Demons amateur rugby league club.[3]
Rugby league
Kear made his Super League debut on 22 August 2009 at Rodney Parade in Newport against the Leeds Rhinos.[4] He was named man of the match after making several fine try-saving tackles against the eventual Super League champions. He also played in Celtic Crusaders final two games of the season against Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers. On 7 October 2009, Kear signed his first professional contract at Celtic Crusaders for the 2010 season, hoping to cement his place as the first choice full back at the club, under new head coach Brian Noble.
In May 2010 Kear was recalled to the Crusaders first team playing in the Challenge cup 4th Round loss at Leeds Rhinos. Playing on the Left wing Kear made the first Crusaders try and scored a second half try in a performance that earn't him praise from the commentators and his coach Iestyn Harris.
The following game Kear played an important part in the crucial win over the Wakefield Wildcats which also saw him selected in the Frontline index Super League team of Round 14.
Bradford Bulls
Kear signed for the Bradford Bulls for 3 Years. The Bulls beat of stiff competition from numerous Super League clubs to secure the highly rated winger's signature.
Kear missed the pre-season games against Castleford Tigers and Dewsbury Rams due to a hernia injury. He featured against Hull FC in the final friendly.
Elliot featured in five consecutive games from Round 1 (Catalans Dragons) to Round 5 (Warrington Wolves). He missed Rounds 6-12 and Round 4 and 5 of the Challenge Cup due to injury. Elliot featured in three consecutive games from Round 13 (London Broncos) to Round 15 (Leeds Rhinos). He was injured for Rounds 16-22. However he was selected in the final game of the season Round 27 (Catalans Dragons). Kear scored against Catalans Dragons (1 try) and Leeds Rhinos (1 try).
Kear featured in the pre-season friendlies against Dewsbury Rams and Leeds Rhinos.
He featured in 27 consecutive games from Round 1 (Wakefield Wildcats) to Round 27 (Huddersfield Giants). Kear was rested for Round 4 of the Challenge Cup but featured in Round 5 (London Broncos). He scored against St Helens RLFC (2 tries), Hull KR (1 try), Catalan Dragons (1 try), Leeds Rhinos (2 tries), London Broncos (1 try), Widnes Vikings (1 try), Hull FC (1 try), Castleford Tigers (1 try) and Huddersfield Giants (1 try). He signed a 1 Year Extension to his current contract.
Kear featured in the pre-season games against Hull FC, Dewsbury Rams and Castleford Tigers. He scored against Castleford Tigers (1 try).
He featured in Round 1 (Castleford Tigers) and Round 3 (London Broncos) to Round 18 (Warrington Wolves). Elliot featured in Round 22 (Wigan Warriors) to Round 23 (Leeds Rhinos). Kear also played in Round 4 (Oldham Roughyeds) to the Quarter Final (Warrington Wolves) in the Challenge Cup. He scored against Widnes Vikings (1 try), Oldham Roughyeds (2 tries), Salford Red Devils (2 tries), Warrington Wolves (2 tries) and Hull KR (1 try).
It was announced that he would leave the club at the end of the year.
| Season | Appearance | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Bradford Bulls | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2013 Bradford Bulls | 28 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 2014 Bradford Bulls | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| Total | 59 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 84 |
Rugby union
London Welsh
On 21 November 2014, Kear switched codes to rugby union as he signed for London Welsh, who compete in England's top rugby union competition, the Aviva Premiership from the 2014-15 season.[5] Kear made his début on 7 December 2014 against Edinburgh Rugby in the European Challenge Cup at Murrayfield. Kear made his first Aviva Premiership start against Saracens on Saturday 20th December scoring a try on his debut at the Allianze Stadium in the away loss.
International career
Kear won his first full International cap when he started as full back against England on 17 October 2009. He scored his first try for Wales on 25 October 2009, in their 88-8 victory over Serbia in the European Cup. A week later he scored his second try in Welsh colours, during their 42-12 win over Ireland in the European Cup. In the final against Scotland he scored another try for the Welsh and was voted man of the match in their 28-16 victory.
In 2010 he represented Wales in the Alitalia European Cup, scoring a hat-trick against Scotland. Playing in his second European Cup final Wales went on to beat France 12 -10 in Albi, the French paper La Depeche vote him as man of the match.
He scored tries against England and Australia in the 2011 Four Nations, and was named in the Wales squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
Kear scored a try in the 32-16 loss against Italy. Kear played against the USA and Cook Islands where he was named Man of the Match and selected at Fullback in the Rugby League World Cup Team of round 3.
Kear was selected in the Dragons team for the 2014 European Cup However he was unable to join the squad as he had recently changed codes to join London Welsh. He was selected for the 2015 European Cup tournament and played in all 3 games at Fullback, scoring a try in a Man of the Match display in the Final game against Ireland to ensure Wales secured their second European Championship.
Kear was selected in Wales' 22-man squad for the 2017 World Cup qualifiers.
References
- 1 2 "Premiership Rugby Elliott Kear". Aviva Premiership Rugby. Premier Rugby. 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ↑ "A school for sporting idols". South Wales Echo. 6 November 2011.
- ↑ Wilson, Andy (6 May 2011). "Crusaders ready to make Andy Powell an offer to switch next season". The Guardian. London.
- ↑ "Elliot Kear - surreal to be playing alongside Gareth Thomas". Crusaders. 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ↑ "London Welsh have signed Wales rugby league international wing Elliot Kear". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2014.