Allan Agar and Richard Agar

Allan Agar started out as a player at a time when Rovers were well covered for half-backs. He made his debut off the bench against Castleford in April 1968, having signed for Rovers the previous September. Faced with competition for a first team place from Carl Dooler, Steve Nash and Terry Hudson, his opportunities were limited. In two years at the club, he played just four first team games. He might have thought he was taking a step down when he joined Dewsbury in 1969, but how wrong can you be? Allan was stand-off in Dewsbury’s astonishing 1973 Championship triumph, in a team that featured among other Mick “Stevo” Stephenson and Jeff Grayshon. After a spell playing for Hunslet, he was at Wembley with Hull KR, as Roger Millward’s half-back partner as they beat Hull 10-5. After a spell at Wakefield, Allan started up the Carlisle club and was their player-coach in their debut year. He then came home to Featherstone and was Rovers first team coach from 1982 to 1985 and in 1991/92. After our magnificent Wembley triumph Allan Agar became one of the few non-players ever to receive the Man of Steel. He later coached at Bramley and today’s visitors Rochdale.

Richard began his playing career at Rovers in June 1991 but couldn’t break into the first team and left to re-join amateurs Traveller’s Saints. After spells at Dewsbury and Rochdale, his playing career blossomed later. As an influential tactical kicker he played in three straight NL finals for Dewsbury (1999, 2000) and Widnes (2001). He memorably scored a late drop goal winner in the 2000 final. He came back to Rovers in 2002 and finally made his first team debut in June 2002 against Leigh. He played a total of 23 games for Featherstone, before becoming assistant coach to Andy Kelly, after previously having coached at Featherstone Lions. He then became head coach at York, then Hull and Wakefield as well as the France national team.

Richard’s brother Jon also did some coaching. He succeeded his brother as player-coach of Featherstone Lions in the National Conference.