‘Dumbest game ever' – Former England star, 33, takes up violent new sport slammed by experts

The Sun

30-04-2025

Jim Sheridan, Sport Reporter
Published: Invalid Date,
RUGBY LEAGUE star George Burgess is taking up new Aussie sport RUNIT - dubbed the "dumbest game ever".
The former Wigan Warriors prop, 33, will compete for AUS$20,000 (£9,500) at the RUNIT Championship League on Wednesday.
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Burgess, who originally hails from West Yorkshire, retired from rugby for a second time last year.
The 33-year-old spent the majority of his career in Australia playing for South Sydney.
And he will head to Melbourne later this week to take on Down Under's newest craze.
RUNIT is a simple sport involving two competitors, who charge at each other at high speed on a 20-metre-long 'battlefield'.
One player holds a rugby ball while the other attempts to tackle the runner, resulting in bone-crunching hits.
RUNIT's rules state that "victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision".
The sport has been criticised by health professionals, including leading neuroscientist Dr Helen Murray.
She told the New Zealand Herald: "From a CTE standpoint, we know that exposure to repeated head acceleration events is the biggest risk factor for CTE pathology.
"Therefore, finding ways to reduce these impacts in contact sports is a priority for player safety.
"It appears there is no attempt to mitigate head acceleration events in this activity.
Watch brutal moment rugby league star VOMITS on pitch after taking bone-shakingly hard hit from rival
"The risk of significant injury is high, given the intent to collide, so I do not support it."
RUNIT plans to hold an event in New Zealand next month.
The hope is then to expand to the UK, USA, and Saudi Arabia later this year.
Organisers have hit back over claims the sport is dangerous, but did slam the running of unlicensed 'backyard' events.
A RUNIT spokesperson said, via The Daily Mail: "Yes, a knockout can potentially occur, but this is not the aim of our game.
We disallow tackles below the waist and above the shoulders. A knockout, like any other combat sport, is a byproduct
RUNIT organiserDaily Mail
"The aim is to dominate contact - whether you bump someone over or land a good, clean hit.
"We disallow tackles below the waist and above the shoulders. A knockout, like any other combat sport, is a byproduct.
"Unlike any other combat sport, however it is not our aim.
"Athletes are screened by a doctor pre and post matches, medics are present, and medical waivers inclusive of drug and blood tests are completed prior to any participation."
Fans have been left baffled by the new sport as it prepares for a showcase in New Zealand.
Commenting on a viral video of a competitor being KO'd in an unlicensed event, one fan sighed on X: "Dumbest game ever."
Another said: "This just looks super dangerous."
The RUNIT organiser added in response: "The video we felt was horrendous and backyard events such as that one was very disappointing to see."