Latest news with #Vatuvei
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."
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Former NZ Warriors star Manu Vatuvei moving on from drug conviction
Once adored by the New Zealand public, 'The Beast' forfeited years of goodwill built up through his record-breaking feats, as well as winning Dancing with the Stars in 2019. 'I don't wish what I went through upon anyone,' he said. 'Bouncing back from where I was before, it was hard. 'You have some good people that will be there to support me, and there will be those people that dislike me because of what I did, but that's part of it. '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. I've been there before, rebuilding myself, so I can do it again.' Vatuvei said he continued to carry the weight of his decisions. 'I'm ready to move forward, but it'll always be on me, everything that I've done. At the end of the day, I just use that as fuel to make me work harder to rebuild again. 'All the hate that I get, I'll just use that as energy to show that I'm doing something good.' Vatuvei is trying to use his experience to encourage other rugby league players to speak out when struggling with mental health. He admitted having suicidal thoughts as his name was dragged through the mud. 'We don't show how hurt we are or if we've got an injury, we just keep playing. We don't want to show the opponent that we're hurt, then they'll keep targeting us, so we don't want to be that weak link in there.' He implored players not to suffer in silence. 'If there's something wrong, you will have someone there that you could talk to and support you. I did, but I was old-school way, just 'get over it and keep moving forward'. 'Eventually, it just got worse and it caught up with me.' Vatuvei has used his time after prison working alongside Dave Letele's Buttabean Motivation (BBM) team. 'I help a lot of people through training and, for what we do with David, I owe him a lot. He never looked down at me or anything. 'He just took me under his wing and gave me the opportunity, but then it was up to me to work my arse off. He just opened the door, and then I just had to walk in and make the move. 'Now I'm just working hard and giving back to our community again, sharing my story with the people I train, because they go through a lot with mental battles. 'I've been through mental battles too, so I'm just happy that I can show support in that way.' Vatuvei has also engaged in public speaking, particularly to youth about taking wrong paths. 'I'm just trying to rebuild and find opportunities elsewhere ... just do what's given to me and hopefully do something positive.' Vatuvei did try to get back into playing last year, but his body would not allow it. 'I've been away from the game for a while now. I tried to play some grassroots footy for my club and I just kept getting injured. 'I had hamstring problems and then I dislocated my shoulder on my last game, so it just says that my body has had enough, now it's just time for me to move on with life. 'I was still hanging on to it, I still had hopes, but after that, it was time to hang it up and focus on my family and focus on something to provide for them.'
