Latest news with #BruceHesketh
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
WHAT THE! A rugby-inspired collission sport gathers momentum; coroner raises alarm
Representational image (Photo by) A New Zealand coroner has raised concerns about a dangerous rugby-inspired sport called "Runit," where participants collide with each other without protective equipment. The sport involves competitors standing 20 meters apart, running directly at each other, with victory determined by who dominates the collision. Coroner Bruce Hesketh included these observations while investigating an unrelated death of a rugby league player. The Runit Championship League, based in Australia, expanded to New Zealand this year, offering NZ$20,000 for regional competition winners and NZ$200,000 for the tournament champion. The sport has gained popularity through social media, leading to unofficial events in both Australia and New Zealand. A tragic incident occurred in May when 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite lost his life due to a severe head injury during an unofficial event in New Zealand. "The competition has all the hallmarks of perilous activity that makes no attempt to mitigate head injury. There appears to be no governing body, the activity is not regulated and has no written publicly accessible rules of participation. Neither is there any information to players around the signs and dangers of concussion or concussion management." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Contrata y llévate la Instalación Gratis Movistar Prosegur Alarmas Prueba ahora Undo "Furthermore, all the applicable team sporting bodies involved have invested heavily in concussion awareness, prevention, identity and management." Hesketh noted that while traditional rugby players aim to avoid tackles, Runit participants actively seek collisions. The coroner advised against recognising Runit as an official sport. The Runit Championship League markets itself as the "home of collisions." Following Satterthwaite's death, New Zealand police issued warnings about the significant injury risks associated with the sport. During the league's first Auckland event in May, two participants were knocked unconscious, and one suffered seizures from a head injury. The crowd of over 1,000 people cheered during the collision that caused the seizures. The league organisers relocated the final event to Dubai's Agenda Arena on June 28 after facing calls for a ban in New Zealand. The organisation is providing travel arrangements for all competitors to attend the Dubai final. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Zealand coroner raises alarm over 'perilous' collision sport
A New Zealand coroner Thursday condemned a "perilous" rugby-inspired sport in which competitors sprint and crash into each other without protective gear. "Runit" competitors line up 20 metres (65 feet) apart and run directly at each other, with the winner being the person who "dominates the collision". Coroner Bruce Hesketh issued the warning as a separate comment in his report into a club player who died after being tackled in a traditional rugby league game. The Australian-based Runit Championship League set up a base in New Zealand this year. It offers a NZ$20,000 (US$12,000) prize to winners of regional competitions and NZ$200,000 to the overall winner of the tournament. Fuelled by social media, unsanctioned splinter events have been held in both Australia and New Zealand. In May, 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died in New Zealand after suffering a serious head injury during one such event. Hesketh, who is not looking into the teenager's death, said he was concerned about the Runit events. "The competition has all the hallmarks of perilous activity that makes no attempt to mitigate head injury," he said. "There appears to be no governing body, the activity is not regulated and has no written publicly accessible rules of participation. "Neither is there any information to players around the signs and dangers of concussion or concussion management." Hesketh said the goal in rugby union or rugby league is to avoid tackles, whereas the goal in Runit competition is the opposite. "Furthermore, all the applicable team sporting bodies involved have invested heavily in concussion awareness, prevention, identity and management," Hesketh said. Runit events "should not be recognised as an official sport", he said. The Runit Championship League touts itself as the "home of collisions". After Satterthwaite's death, New Zealand police warned people to be wary of the "significant" injury risks. In the Runit Championship League's first event in Auckland in May, two people were knocked out, and one man ended up having seizures after suffering a head injury. The collision that led to the seizures was greeted with loud cheers from a crowd of more than 1,000 people. The league organisers had planned to host the final event in Auckland but moved it to Dubai after calls for it to be banned in New Zealand. The league is flying all competitors to the June 28 final at the Agenda Arena in Dubai. bes/djw/pst
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Run It Straight organisers criticised by coroner
Run It organisers have come under criticism from a coroner who said it should not be considered a sport. Bruce Hesketh has slated the competition as a perilous activity that makes no attempt to mitigate head injury. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
News24
12 hours ago
- Sport
- News24
New Zealand coroner raises alarm over ‘perilous' rugby-inspired collision sport
A New Zealand coroner has condemned the unregulated 'Runit' sport, where players sprint and crash into each other for dominance, highlighting its risks of head injuries and lack of safety measures. The Runit Championship League offers substantial cash prizes and has gained popularity through social media, but it faces backlash after a tragic death and multiple injuries during its events. Despite concerns and calls for a ban in New Zealand, the league shifted its finals to Dubai, flying competitors to the event scheduled for 28 June. For more rugby news, visit our dedicated section. A New Zealand coroner on Thursday condemned a 'perilous' rugby-inspired sport in which competitors sprint and crash into each other without protective gear. 'Runit' competitors line up 20 metres apart and run directly at each other, with the winner being the person who 'dominates the collision'. Coroner Bruce Hesketh issued the warning as a separate comment in his report into a club player who died after being tackled in a traditional rugby league game. The Australian-based Runit Championship League set up a base in New Zealand this year. It offers a NZ$20 000 prize to winners of regional competitions and NZ$200 000 to the overall winner of the tournament. Fuelled by social media, unsanctioned splinter events have been held in both Australia and New Zealand. In May, 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died in New Zealand after suffering a serious head injury during one such event. Hesketh, who is not looking into the teenager's death, said he was concerned about the Runit events. 'The competition has all the hallmarks of perilous activity that makes no attempt to mitigate head injury,' he said. 'There appears to be no governing body, the activity is not regulated and has no written publicly accessible rules of participation. 'Neither is there any information to players around the signs and dangers of concussion or concussion management.' Hesketh said the goal in rugby union or rugby league is to avoid tackles, whereas the goal in Runit competition is the opposite. 'Furthermore, all the applicable team sporting bodies involved have invested heavily in concussion awareness, prevention, identity and management,' Hesketh said. Runit events 'should not be recognised as an official sport', he said. The Runit Championship League touts itself as the 'home of collisions'. After Satterthwaite's death, New Zealand police warned people to be wary of the 'significant' injury risks. In the Runit Championship League's first event in Auckland in May, two people were knocked out, and one man ended up having seizures after suffering a head injury. The collision that led to the seizures was greeted with loud cheers from a crowd of more than 1 000 people. The league organisers had planned to host the final event in Auckland but moved it to Dubai after calls for it to be banned in New Zealand. The league is flying all competitors to the 28 June final at the Agenda Arena in Dubai.
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
New Zealand coroner raises alarm over ‘perilous' collision sport
WELLINGTON – A New Zealand coroner on June 19 condemned a 'perilous' rugby-inspired sport in which competitors sprint and crash into each other without protective gear. 'Runit' competitors line up 20 metres apart and run directly at each other, with the winner being the person who 'dominates the collision'. Coroner Bruce Hesketh issued the warning as a separate comment in his report into a club player who died after being tackled in a traditional rugby league game. The Australian-based Runit Championship League set up a base in New Zealand this year. It offers a NZ$20,000 (S$15,400) prize to winners of regional competitions and NZ$200,000 to the overall winner of the tournament. Fuelled by social media, unsanctioned splinter events have been held in both Australia and New Zealand. In May, 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died in New Zealand after suffering a serious head injury during one such event. Hesketh, who is not looking into the teenager's death, said he was concerned about the Runit events. 'The competition has all the hallmarks of perilous activity that makes no attempt to mitigate head injury,' he said. 'There appears to be no governing body, the activity is not regulated and has no written publicly accessible rules of participation. 'Neither is there any information to players around the signs and dangers of concussion or concussion management.' Hesketh said the goal in rugby union or rugby league is to avoid tackles, whereas the goal in Runit competition is the opposite. 'Furthermore, all the applicable team sporting bodies involved have invested heavily in concussion awareness, prevention, identity and management,' he added. Runit events 'should not be recognised as an official sport', he said. The Runit Championship League touts itself as the 'home of collisions'. After Satterthwaite's death, New Zealand police warned people to be wary of the 'significant' injury risks. In the Runit Championship League's first event in Auckland in May, two people were knocked out, and one man ended up having seizures after suffering a head injury. The collision that led to the seizures was greeted with loud cheers from a crowd of more than 1,000 people. The league organisers had planned to host the final event in Auckland but moved it to Dubai after calls for it to be banned in New Zealand. The league is flying all competitors to the June 28 final at the Agenda Arena in Dubai. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
