Latest news with #ManuVatuvei
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Big cash prices driving those to RUN It game
sport health 29 minutes ago 19 year old Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a catastrophic head injury while playing a version of Run It Straight. Since the death some high profile sports people and organisations have come out warning of the dangers of the craze being promoted on social media. Two participants at an Official Run it Championship trial held in Auckland last week were knocked out. Former league star Manu Vatuvei who played for the Warriors and New Zealand team, was there and endorsed the game saying he loved it and he is happy its here in New Zealand. David Letele spoke to Lisa Owen.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Warriors distance themselves from 'run it straight'
RUNIT Auckland. Trusts Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport The rugby league community is ensuring they distance themselves from the controversial new collision trend known as 'run it straight.' Calls are growing louder to ban the game in the wake of a teenager's death in Palmerston North. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, died after suffering a catastrophic head injury while playing a version of the game. Though several copycat leagues have appeared, the pre-eminent and most popular is the RunIt Championship League. Current Warriors halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita has appeared in promotions for RunIt, advertised as a 'special guest' for the first night of trials in Auckland. When RNZ contacted the club for comment, a spokesman insisted the Warriors had nothing to do with the organisation. Coach Andrew Webster said he is not across the new collision craze. "I'm not a social media man so I don't know too much about it." Asked whether it could affect perceptions of the NRL, Webster said he didn't want to make an uneducated statement. "I honestly don't know enough about it, any contact sport should be done in a safe environment, but I'm focused on our game." Former Warrior and current club mentor Manu Vatuvei spoke at the second night of trials. "I know a lot of people hate it, and a lot of people love it. I'm one of those people who love it," he said at the time. Other notable athletes to have previously endorsed RunIt include current UFC light heavyweights Carlos Ulberg and Navajo Stirling. Former All Black Saveatama Eroni Clarke, the Pasifika engagement manager for NZ Rugby told Checkpoint Satterthwaite's death was a tragedy. Regulations that focus on health and safety need to be put in place, Clarke said. His message to young people is: "Don't do it, there's too much risk involved, we've seen now the extreme of it and the high risk that it brings - head trauma and other things that it brings as well." Saveatama Eroni Clarke. Photo: Supplied "I think about my own children and I think about Caleb and I'm thinking about his brothers and I'm thinking well certainly if there is a contact sport that I want them to play it's rugby." Young people who want to play a contact sport should join rugby, where there is good coaching and safety is in mind, he said. His message to high profile players is: "We can't be seen to support something like this."
1News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Video shows man have apparent seizure at 'Run It' competition
Two men were knocked out during last night's 'Run It Straight' event held in Auckland, in which two competitors collide at full speed. Warning: This article includes footage of an apparent injury event. While one of the men was able to be helped away on his feet after contact, another slumped to the ground and appeared to have a seizure. The Run It Straight competition at Auckland's Trust Arena on Wednesday night drew more than 1000 people. Eight men put their bodies and brains on the line for $20,000 prize money last night, two of them required medical attention after being knocked out. The winners from this week's trials will progress to a final competition held next month, where the champion is set to receive a prize of $250,000. The sport has a number of high profile endorsements, including Kiwi league legend Manu Vatuvei. "This is one of the contact sports that I love, you know, it's a one-on-one … it just reminds me of training, we used to run at each other and try smash each other, just to get the feel of the contact," he told RNZ. Others RNZ spoke to at the event said they liked the energy of the collision — "the big oomph", one said. Another spectator said they enjoyed the vibes of the sport and the event. "Just the big hits eh, all the hype it brings, the crowd, everything, the atmosphere, they said. One fan told RNZ she was glad the sport was expanding. "I'm glad that this one went through, and now the world can see what type of sport this is, and you know the people who are attracted to it. "It's a good thing for our brothers, but they need to do a woman's one, I'm gonna run it straight," she said. Meanwhile, the sport has been under fire for its risk of head injuries. Wednesday night's event saw knock outs — including one athlete appearing to have a seizure as he hit the ground. The Run It championship league attempted to mirror the physical collisions seen during rugby league or union games, but has some concerned. (Source: 1News) When RNZ approached some fans about the criticisms of the sport, some still backed it. "Mind your own business eh, like you know, just let the people be, let them be," one person said. Another commented "the people wanna do it, like, why stop them?". Vatuvei said he backed the sport despite the controversy. "I'm just happy that it's here in New Zealand, I know a lot of people hate it and a lot of people love it, I'm one of those people that love it," he said. When asked whether he would be tempted to try the sport himself, he said "I do, I do, honestly I do, but it's one of those things that my mind is telling me one thing but my body is telling me another". An event planned for Williams Park in Māngere on Wednesday did not go ahead and another planned for Marist Saints on Thursday was also scrapped. The council said the organisers did not seek a permit or try to book council sites, but if they had followed the correct process, it was highly unlikely the event would have met its guidelines for approval. Earlier, RNZ spoke to a brain injury support group who said they were "appalled" that the Run It Straight events were being staged across Auckland. Chief executive of the Headway charity Stacey Mowbray said the activity was undoubtedly causing brain injury. She said the format and promotion of the events appeared to exploit financially vulnerable people by offering large cash prizes.
1News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Run It Straight organisers promise more events, despite criticism
Despite public outcry, it appears the RUNIT Championship League will return. After completing the second of its trials at Trusts Arena in West Auckland on Wednesday night, organisers posted on social media: "Thank you Auckland, we will be back." An announcement was made confirming a third 'Run It Straight' event, pitting the winners from Monday and Wednesday's trials head-to-head for a prize of $250,000. A date and venue was yet to be confirmed, though they said the final would be held indoors. Wednesday night's trial took place on a 20m by 4m strip of astroturf, with competitors hovering around the 130kg mark. Two men retired due to knocks to the head, one slumping to the ground and appearing to have a seizure. A competitor at the sports event in west Auckland appeared to convulse after colliding with another participant. (Source: Both hits were met by a thunderous ovation from the crowd. Among them was Kiwi league legend Manu Vatuvei, who said RUNIT reminded him of his Warriors training days. "We used to run at each other and try to smash each other, just to get the feel of the contact - that's what drew me into this. I'm just happy it's here in New Zealand. I know a lot of people hate it, and a lot of people love it. I'm one of those people who love it." Vatuvei said he was tempted to give it a crack himself. "I do, honestly – but my mind is telling me one thing, my body is telling me another." UFC light heavyweight Carlos Ulberg was also there, and along with Vatuvei threw T-shirts into the crowd. "We used to do this at school – it was how we got our confidence or respect," Ulberg said. Current Warrior Chanel Harris-Tavita has also appeared in promotional material for RUNIT, though the Warriors said it had nothing to do with them and the club did not want to comment. Hundreds of children were also there. "It's mean. The big hits, all the hype it brings, the crowd, everything, the atmosphere," a high schooler said. Another young woman wanted to see females included. "I know some hearty wahine – they need to do a women's one, because I'm gonna run it straight!" Two other Run It Straight events were cancelled after organisers did not secure permits – though they blamed it on the council on social media. In a statement today, Auckland Council said it had not declined or cancelled any events, stating it believed it was "unlikely" the events would have been okayed if the organisers had applied. "Run It Straight organisers have not applied for any event permits or made any requests to book council owned or managed sites," general manager parks and community facilities Taryn Crewe said. "It is therefore incorrect to suggest that the council is not allowing these events to proceed. However if the organisers were to follow the correct process, we believe it is highly unlikely the event would have met the council's guidelines for approval. "In addition to health and safety considerations, Auckland's sports fields are in high demand at this time of year, with priority given to agreements with regional sports organisations." One of the events had been down for Williams Park, Māngere, but the chairman of the local community board told Local Democracy Reporting it was opposed. Tauanu'u Nick Bakulich, chairman of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board, said the board was against the event on public health and safety grounds – especially around brain and health-related injuries. The Run It Straight concept has its strong critics. Chief executive of the Headway charity, Stacey Mowbray, told RNZ it was undoubtedly causing brain injury. She said the format and promotion of the events appeared to exploit financially vulnerable people by offering large cash prizes. In Australia, sports neuroscientist Dr Alan Pearce told participants needed to understand they may be shortening their lives every time they take part. "I was pretty gobsmacked, speechless actually when I saw this competition idea starting, because for me as someone who has seen hundreds of footballers and rugby league players who are now struggling with brain injury and long-term impairment, it is really troubling."
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy star Manu Vatuvei opens up about why his time in jail for smuggling $200,000 worth of meth will haunt him for the rest of his life
Fallen NRL star Manu Vatuvei has expressed his deep regret about smuggling meth, adamant his jail experience will stay with him forever. Vatuvei, 39, was sent to prison in 2022 for three years and seven months for his role in the drug syndicate - before he was paroled under special conditions in May of 2023. Along with his brother Lopini Lautau Mafi, Vatuvei was caught by authorities removing nine packets of concealed methamphetamine - worth $200,000 - from a package which arrived in New Zealand from India in 2019. 'The Beast' knows some footy fans will never forgive him - but he is still seeking redemption, day by day. 'I take ownership of what I did and I'm accountable for it, and now I'm changing my life again and rebuilding from the start,' he told the New Zealand Herald. 'I'm ready to move forward, but it'll always be on me, everything that I've done. Vatuvei was a fan favourite at the New Zealand Warriors, playing 226 games for the club and scoring 152 tries 'All the hate that I get, I'll just use that as energy to show that I'm doing something good.' Once Vatuvei was released from behind bars, he started working with Dave Letele's Buttabean Motivation (BBM) team in New Zealand. Letele is a former Kiwi heavyweight boxer who after retiring from the sport in 2016 turned his attention to motivational speaking and providing food for the needy. 'I owe him a lot. He (Letele) never looked down at me or anything,' Vatuvei said. 'He just took me under his wing and gave me the opportunity, but then it was up to me to work my arse off. 'Now I'm working hard and giving back to the community....I also share my story.' The father of five's sporting career ended abruptly in June of 2019 after it was discovered the hulking winger had a cyst on his brain. Vatuvei was a fan favourite at the New Zealand Warriors, playing 226 games for the club as well as 29 Tests for the Kiwis and two for Tonga. He also featured in the 2011 NRL Grand Final, scoring a four-pointer in the 24-10 defeat against Manly - and his 152 tries between 2004 and 2017 remains a club record.
