Australia's first openly gay footy star Ian Roberts drops devastating health bombshell as he reveals he has incurable condition
Footy legend Ian Roberts has revealed the sad news that he's been diagnosed with epilepsy as he hit out at a dangerous new trend among footy fans.
The former Manly, NSW and Kangaroos enforcer dropped the news as he warned Australians against participating in a social media craze that recently killed a teenager in New Zealand.
Roberts slammed the 'run it straight' challenge after shocking videos showed fans colliding heavily with each other in wild scenes after the Sea Eagles' match against Brisbane on Sunday.
Roberts dropped his health bombshell when Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked him about the dangers of the craze.
'Repeated head knocks and concussions, like I was saying earlier, the science is already out there. That's damaging long-term,' Roberts said.
'I can honestly say, in the last 12 months I've had a bit of an issue myself.
'I was just recently diagnosed - and I'm not just saying this because we're on air, but it's potentially to do with this - with epilepsy.
'This is all potentially long-term stuff. I reckon the damage I did to myself was not taking the shots [tackles], it was making the shots.'
Stefanovic then asked how Roberts is dealing with the diagnosis.
'I'm good mate, I just started a new process of medication, which has really helped.
'But that's what I'm talking about. When you're 19 and 20, young teenage boys, when you're 15, you're never going to be 50, you're never going to be 60, that's too far away.
'But the fact is mate, I'm now 60 this year, and knowing what I know now, my own personal situation, there are things I would've changed about my playing style.
'I would definitely have changed - in 1990, when I made a conscious effort to pull off more big hits to toughen my image up or whatever that is, I certainly wouldn't be doing that.'
Roberts added that he would 'absolutely' support a ban on the run it straight craze, which has spawned the professional RunIt competition, which has been held in Melbourne and New Zealand recently and featured former NRL star George Burgess.
'This is long-term, potentially catastrophic consequences for young people,' Roberts said.
'We can't keep ignoring it.'
Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and leaves patients at risk of seizures.
It can be brought on at any age by a stroke, brain infection, head injury or problems at birth that lead to lack of oxygen.
But in more than half of cases, a cause is never found.
The video Roberts was reacting two showed a series of men charging down a hill over the back of Manly's home ground and being hit by another group of men at the bottom.
The run it straight craze involves people charging directly at each other - with one usually holding an NRL or rugby ball - to pull off a footy-style collision.
The trend turned deadly last week after New Zealand teenager Ryan Satterthwaite tragically lost his life attempting the challenge.
He sustained a serious head injury during an impromptu game with friends and passed away in hospital on May 26.
His death has prompted widespread warnings from health experts and authorities about the dangers of the viral trend.
One participant in the video taken at Manly was filmed chugging a drink before roaring and charging down the hill, only to be ironed out by another participant wearing a Manly Sea Eagles jersey.
The footage has quickly drawn criticism following Satterthwaite's death.
'Glad to see we've learnt from the poor blokes passing in New Zealand last week,' one viewer posted, tongue firmly in cheek.
'Would love to know how many ended up at northern beaches hospital,' posted another.
'Intelligence below the charts,' added another.
Despite the obvious dangers, the warnings and the death of Satterthwaite, the video still attracted plenty of attention from people loving the trend.
Former rugby league and All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams recently apologised for posting an Instagram video of one of his hits during his time in the NRL with the caption 'Playing run it straight before it was called run it straight'.
'I put a video up last night, and I just want to ask for forgiveness of the young fulla that passed away,' Williams said on his social media account.
'Please excuse me for my insensitivity. I did not know that had happened.
'I want to talk about it for a second right now.
'I've been asked to collab with the Run it Straight people, or a couple of people and I haven't.
'Simply because I wouldn't put my kids in it.
'I have safety concerns and that's just my thoughts on it.'
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