Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary donates kidney to brother

Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary has made a career on based on courage and selflessness and now he has taken it to another level.

Cleary, 46, has made an incredible sacrifice – he has donated his a kidney to his brother Ash.

It is the truest act of brotherly love.

9NEWS understands that Cleary had the operation late last week and he spent several days in hospital.

He is back at home with his family.

Ivan is understood to be recovering well. Ash's condition is unknown.

Cleary had the support of the Wests Tigers club to have the operation and club insiders say that this act of selflessness underlines why they chose him to lead their club.

Attempts to contact Cleary and Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe were unsuccessful.