Latest news with #RyanSatterthwaite
Mercury
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Mercury
‘Wouldn't put my kids in it': SBW apologises for promoting Run it Straight after New Zealand tragedy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sonny Bill Williams has apologised for sharing a video promoting 'Run it Straight' just days after a teenager in New Zealand died while playing a similar game with friends. One of the modern game's hardest hitters, Williams played in the pre and post shoulder charge NRL era, and there are plenty of videos on social media of his most brutal tackles. One user found a clip from 2004 of Williams putting a big hit on Penrith's Joel Clinton. Williams shared the footage, to his 1.5 million followers with the caption: 'Playing run it straight before it was called run it straight…' The 39-year-old later apologised after being made aware of the tragedy that took place in New Zealand earlier in the week. Nineteen year old Ryan Satterthwaite died on Monday night after suffering a head injury while playing a private game of 'run it straight' with friends in Palmerston North. Satterthwaite's uncle said he was inspired to give the viral online craze a try after seeing clips of it on social media. 'I put a video up last night, and I just want to ask for forgiveness of the young fulla that passed away,' Williams said in a follow up Instagram story on Saturday. 'Please excuse me for my insensitivity. Kiwi teenager Ryan Satterthwaite passed away while playing a game of run it straight with friends. Picture: Supplied '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.' 'Run it straight' has exploded in popularity over the last five months, with videos of big collisions going viral on social media. The new 'sport' has proved controversial though, with dozens of concussion experts, former players, mental health professionals and even Prime Minister of New Zealand condemning the controversial game. Williams was a bruising defender in his day. Picture:Although he has his reservations, Williams believes the trend will continue. 'I'd like weight classes and rules around head contact, but also age and experience classes as well,' he said. 'It's gonna carry on, because people love it. It's entertainment. 'But I'd like to see some heavily controlled safety restrictions come in. 'Once again to the family, my love and regards go out to you guys.' Run it Straight touts itself as the world's newest combat sport. It sees two competitors - one attacker with a rugby ball, and one defender - run directly at each other from opposite ends of a 20m 'battlefield.' The huge collisions have seen scary knockouts, concussions and, in one instance, left a man convulsing on the ground. Run it Straight has been widely criticised for the obvious concussion dangers, and several planned events in New Zealand have been cancelled. Originally published as 'Wouldn't put my kids in it': SBW apologises for promoting Run it Straight after New Zealand tragedy
Herald Sun
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Concussion expert condemns ‘Run It Straight' as barbaric blood sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Exclusive: A leading concussion expert has slammed the self-styled sport Run It Straight as 'barbaric' and said it has no place in a civilised society. A social media phenomenon, Run It Straight involves participants sprinting into each other with one carrying a football. New Zealand teen Ryan Satterthwaite died from injuries sustained during an impromptu game with friends. Despite widespread backlash, official competitions are emerging on both sides of the Tasman, drawing hundreds to watch combatants on what one 'Championship League' describes as a 20m x 4m 'battlefield', where 'victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision'. Olympic hero and Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieren Perkins has spoken out against this 'dangerous activity', while Melbourne Storm's Nelson Asofa-Solomona has parted ways with the most high-profile of several outfits organising these official 'challenges'. But that organisation, RUNIT, insists the controversial craze is 'here to stay'. Adrian Cohen, the founding CEO of concussion assessment program Headsafe, said he viewed Run It Straight as 'an activity designed to create a brain injury'. 'I'm hard-pressed to think of a more dangerous pursuit,' he said. 'Perhaps being shot out of a cannon.' Dr Cohen, a former senior lecturer at Sydney University, sits on the advisory board of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the medical advisory panel of the NSW Combat Sports Authority, and helped create the Australian Sports Brain Bank. Asked if he was surprised by the online popularity of Run It Straight, he replied: 'I'm not, in the same way people thought 2000 years ago that going down to the Colosseum on a Saturday afternoon to watch some Christians being fed to the lions sounded like a good day out. As a culture, we have a history we should not be particularly proud of in enjoying blood sports. 'The idea that we should be creating new ones with what we know about brain health and about the dangers, it's absolutely ludicrous.' Dr Cohen said a major concern was a lack of regulation. 'Unfortunately, this is not a sport and it's certainly not a combat sport that comes under their legislation. So, as a society, we need to look at this and decide it's a bad idea,' he said. 'I don't know who in the government is prepared to put up their hand and say that's the case but if they did there'd be a lot of people that would agree with them, not least the parents and friends of this poor kid in NZ.' A spokesman for NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper said: 'We can't legislate against every bad idea. If you want to play contact sport, sign up to your local club so you can learn to play in a safe environment'. Mr Perkins said Run It Straight did not align with 'any of our advice when it comes to protecting Australians from concussions and brain injuries'. 'We want all young people to stay active, but it must be done in a safe way. Let's hope, for the sake of our community, this activity is a phase that is quickly moved on from.' Dr Cohen said the risk attached to major collisions was not always well understood. 'There is no such thing as a tough brain,' he warned. 'And concussions don't just happen from a blow to the head but from energy transferred from a blow anywhere – the head or the body – to the head. 'You can also have a second impact if the head is hitting the ground. So someone's just got to say we don't need this.' Michael Bramble, a father of two boys who has connections to Hunters Hill Rugby Club, has major concerns. 'It's just an unsafe risk that kids should not be taking,' Mr Bramble, whose sons are aged three and five, said. 'If my son came home and said he wanted to take part in the challenge, I'd sit down and have a stern conversation with him about why it's unsafe. I'd be quite worried. 'These kinds of online challenges are a real danger, especially when people don't understand the risks.' He said junior rugby clubs worked hard to provide safe, structured environments. 'At this age, kids start with no contact,' he said. 'As they develop, they're slowly introduced to key aspects like tackling, but only when ready.' While it has racked up tens of millions of views since taking off online earlier this year, the phenomenon has more critics than fans. But the controversy has not deterred Melbourne-based RUNIT, which has distanced itself from the fatal tragedy. 'We do not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be performed under the strict conditions,' a RUNIT spokesman said. 'RUNIT will continue to educate our followers on the risks associated.' RUNIT founder Rennie Lautolo-Molimau also wrote 'We're here to stay' in an Instagram story on Wednesday. Asofa-Solomona was heavily involved in the early days of RUNIT, appearing in a promotional video in February and attending a trial event with teammates Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes and Will Warbrick in March. While Asofa-Solomona has since parted ways with RUNIT over safety concerns, promotional material featuring him and his teammates remains online. Asofa-Solomona is now promoting a much safer competition called 'Big Steppa'. A spokesman for the Storm, which is not involved with RUNIT, said Papenhuyzen, Hughes and Warbrick had only attended one event to support Asofa-Solomona. The NRL declined to comment on RUNIT, while Rugby Australia said it wanted 'absolutely nothing to do with it.' Originally published as 'Barbaric': Viral social media craze slammed as after teen's death
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE A teenager died taking part in this latest internet craze. Here's why a leading brain doctor believes every parent needs to be warned
Australia's leading brain injury expert says an internet craze labelled 'the world's fiercest new collision sport' and which has already killed a teenager is more dangerous than traditional football codes. Run It Straight is a challenge that's gaining popularity with millions of social media users sharing videos of people smashing into each other. The tackle game features two players and involves a ball runner and a tackler standing 20m apart before they run full speed towards each other without protective gear. The aim is to knock the opponent over. It has even been endorsed by some professional rugby players despite warnings that it could give players head trauma and a brain injury. A Run It Straight event was recently hosted in Auckland, with organisers promoting it as 'the world's fiercest new collision sport,' which rewarded 'strength and grit'. More than 1,000 people watched eight men compete for a $20,000 prize. Winners of that competition were supposed to go to Auckland's Trust Arena for a final competition to compete for $250,000. But the stadium canned the event due to the 'overwhelming concern' the trials caused. 'Following the trials, it was clear from commentary that there was overwhelming concern for the high-risk nature of the event,' the arena's general manager said. A 19-year-old from New Zealand died on Monday after suffering a serious head injury in a backyard version of Run It Straight. Ryan Satterthwaite, from Palmerston North, passed away after taking part in the full-contact collision game with friends when the injury occurred. The death sparked renewed calls for the game to be banned. Dr Rowena Mobbs is a neurologist and the founder and director of the Australian CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) Biobank. She slammed the new craze and told Daily Mail Australia that it was 'not a sport'. 'It is a form of harm and it should be avoided,' she said. 'What we have is data worldwide in terms of concussion and CTE with tackling environments. 'We know that a single traumatic brain injury can be devastating for an individual, leading to lifelong disability or death in some instances. This is likely to involve brain swelling or bleeding.' Dr Mobbs said Run It Straight was even more dangerous than rugby league or Aussie Rules in terms of the brain injury risk. 'In my opinion this is a higher risk scenario than contact sports like the football codes,' she said. 'That's because participants are running at full speed towards each other with a much greater force of impact than on the footy field. 'Parents who have children engaging in this form of harm need to be acutely aware that there could be serous consequences, even death.' Participants of Run It Straight aren't supposed to hit each other in the head but even body shots can impact the brain. Dr Mobbs said whiplash was associated with brain injury. 'In boxing, people sign up knowing the head will be hit, but not in Run It Straight,' she said. Dr Mobbs also said simple concussions were more dangerous and debilitating than most people thought. 'We used to believe that the majority of concussions would resolve pretty quickly but the increasing data suggests otherwise,' she said.
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
‘Wouldn't put my kids in it': SBW apologises for promoting Run it Straight after New Zealand tragedy
Sonny Bill Williams has apologised for sharing a video promoting 'Run it Straight' just days after a teenager in New Zealand died while playing a similar game with friends. One of the modern game's hardest hitters, Williams played in the pre and post shoulder charge NRL era, and there are plenty of videos on social media of his most brutal tackles. One user found a clip from 2004 of Williams putting a big hit on Penrith's Joel Clinton. Williams shared the footage, to his 1.5 million followers with the caption: 'Playing run it straight before it was called run it straight…' The 39-year-old later apologised after being made aware of the tragedy that took place in New Zealand earlier in the week. Nineteen year old Ryan Satterthwaite died on Monday night after suffering a head injury while playing a private game of 'run it straight' with friends in Palmerston North. Satterthwaite's uncle said he was inspired to give the viral online craze a try after seeing clips of it on social media. 'I put a video up last night, and I just want to ask for forgiveness of the young fulla that passed away,' Williams said in a follow up Instagram story on Saturday. '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.' 'Run it straight' has exploded in popularity over the last five months, with videos of big collisions going viral on social media. The new 'sport' has proved controversial though, with dozens of concussion experts, former players, mental health professionals and even Prime Minister of New Zealand condemning the controversial game. Although he has his reservations, Williams believes the trend will continue. 'I'd like weight classes and rules around head contact, but also age and experience classes as well,' he said. 'It's gonna carry on, because people love it. It's entertainment. 'But I'd like to see some heavily controlled safety restrictions come in. 'Once again to the family, my love and regards go out to you guys.' Run it Straight touts itself as the world's newest combat sport. It sees two competitors - one attacker with a rugby ball, and one defender - run directly at each other from opposite ends of a 20m 'battlefield.' The huge collisions have seen scary knockouts, concussions and, in one instance, left a man convulsing on the ground. Run it Straight has been widely criticised for the obvious concussion dangers, and several planned events in New Zealand have been cancelled.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Teenager dies after taking part in ‘dumb' viral rugby-style tackle game
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has added his voice to widespread condemnation of a viral rugby tackle challenge, following the death of a teenager from a head injury. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, died in Palmerston North on Monday after participating in the "run it straight" tackle challenge with a group of friends. The challenge involves competitors running head-on at each other without protective gear, mimicking the collisions seen in rugby. The game has gained considerable traction on social media, sparking concerns about its dangerous nature. "All I can say to young adults who are participating is you've got some personal responsibility in this," Mr Luxon told local media on Friday. "You're hearing the advice from police, from the medical fraternity, from government, from principals saying don't do it. "To the adults that are involved in more formal organisation of it and are influencing it and leading this out on social media, I think you need to stop and I can't be any clearer. "The evidence is that it's a dumb thing to do and you should stop." Organised "run it straight" competitions have been held in Australia and New Zealand over the past year. The trend has attracted widespread condemnation from politicians and the New Zealand medical community, particularly those working in the field of head injuries. New Zealand Rugby, which along with the rest of the rugby world over the last decade has been looking at ways to reduce head injuries in the game, extended its condolences to Mr Satterthwaite's family in a statement earlier this week. "We urge people not to take part in run it straight games or competitions as they carry significant risk of serious injury," the statement read. "Those wanting to play contact sports should register for a school or club team and learn in a controlled and safe environment how to tackle safely and the art of evasion." Police Inspector Ross Grantham said Mr Satterthwaite's death was an 'absolute tragedy'. 'The tackle game played by the group of friends was based on a social media-driven trend, where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear,' Mr Grantham said. 'While this was an impromptu game among friends, not a planned event, this tragic outcome does highlight the inherent safety concerns with such an activity. 'We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.'
