Latest news with #runItStraight
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Viral sport run it straight ‘here to stay' despite teen's death
Organisers of controversial new contact sport RUNIT have declared they are 'here to stay' despite widespread backlash after a teenager died from head injuries suffered in a casual 'run it straight' game with mates. Ryan Satterthwaite was critically injured while playing an impromptu tackle game with friends last week in Palmerston North, New Zealand. According to Ryan's uncle, Peter Satterthwaite, his nephew and his friends decided to try it at a 21st birthday celebration on Sunday after seeing the big hits on social media. 'They decided to give it a go because of what they saw on social media and on the news last week about it,' Satterthwaite told Stuff. Footage of the tackle that resulted in the injuries that would later take the life of Ryan, was given to police. The video of the tackle in question reportedly didn't even hit his head, instead, it was the jolting motion of the hit that proved fatal. For years the 'run it straight' trend has sporadically gone viral on social media platforms. But in recent months it has transformed from a viral social media trend to a fully-fledged sport, with 'Run it Straight Official' and 'RUNIT Championship League' turning it into a business and holding competitions in Australia and New Zealand. The 'sport' continues to be increasingly controversial due to the violent nature of some of the tackles and the backlash has only intensified after Satterthwaite passed away. But Melbourne-based organisation RUNIT – the most high profile and well- of the several organisations staging 'run it straight' challenges – distanced themselves from the tragic incident and declared they aren't going anywhere. 'We do not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be performed under strict conditions,' a RUNIT spokesperson told Code Sports. 'RUNIT is planning future events over the coming months and will continue to educate our followers on the risks associated.' And as calls intensified for the sport to be banned RUNIT founder Rennie Lautolo-Molimau wrote 'We're here to stay' in an Instagram story. The caption was on a screenshot showing that UFC commentator and podcast behemoth Joe Rogan was following their page. New Zealand government moves to crack down on controversial spot However, the future of 'run it straight' at least in New Zealand hangs in the balance, with their Government seeking advice on what they can do about the controversial sport. Sport NZ group chief executive Raelene Castle told the New Zealand Herald it was concerned about the emergence of the sport, 'which clearly comes with significant health and safety risks'. 'Both Sport NZ and High-Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ) are committed to fostering safe and inclusive activities and events for all New Zealanders. 'We are working to facilitate a cross-agency discussion with those who have an interest in this area on what a Government approach to the operation of combat sport, including the emergence of activities and events like run it straight, in New Zealand could look like.' Castle strongly advised people against participating in run-it or any activities that encourage high-speed collisions. While New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon labelled Satterthwaite's death an 'absolute tragedy' on Friday morning and said competing in the viral trend was 'a dumb thing to do'. 'When it's happening at a 21st birthday party unofficially, that is not something the Government can solve through legislation or through regulation,' Luxon said. 'All I can say to young adults who are participating is you've got some personal responsibility in this. You're hearing the advice from the police, from the medical fraternity, from the Government, from principals saying don't do it. 'To the adults that are involved in the 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.'
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New Zealand teen dies in viral rugby-style tackle game
A 19-year-old New Zealander has died of a "serious head injury" sustained in a social media-inspired game of tackle with friends, police young man, identified in local media as Ryan Satterthwaite, died in hospital on Monday after a game of "run it straight" in the city of Palmerston to recreate collisions seen in rugby, the game has two players - one with a ball, the other the tackler - charge at full speed to knock each other down without protective gear."We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks," police spokesperson Ross Grantham said in a statement on Tuesday. "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."He added that it was not a police matter, but officers would "continue to undertake enquiries on behalf of the coroner"."Run it straight" has long been played casually in Australia and New Zealand, but has recently taken off as a trend online and been endorsed by some professional rugby players, despite critics warnings it could give players head trauma and brain social media, "run it straight" challenges show young men and students charging at each other as their friends watch on. In some videos, participants are seen passing out after being the popularity of the game grew, some have started to hold their own tournaments - though it is unclear how these are such tournament, the Runit Championship League, made its debut in Auckland this month after first being held in Australia in its website, organisers described the game as the "fiercest, new collision sport".The league drew more than 1,000 people to the Auckland's Trusts Arena as men went head-to-head for a prize of around $13,000 (£9,500).Some participants were injured during their matches, and one video showed a man appearing to have a seizure after colliding with his Runit Championship League organisers have promised to return to next month with an even bigger Ngaluafe, the organiser of Up the Guts NZ, another "run it straight" event in New Zealand, tells says the game has long been popular in the country, attracting five-year-old boys to men in their 40s."It's a Kiwi national backyard sport. The boys are currently playing as we speak," he tells the Satterthwaite's death is a reminder of how important safety is, Mr Ngaluafe says. He adds that players should wear protective headgear - which many currently do not - and have spotters around to prevent their heads from hitting the ground. "In New Zealand, kids are playing this kind of game every day. They deserve to be guided properly and shown how to do it the right way," he says.
