Latest news with #tackling
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
British youths warned not to take part in trend after Kiwi teenager is killed in controversial game - but UK stars 'support it'
British teenagers have been warned not to take part in a dangerous trend that has led to the tragic death of a New Zealand teenager. The rugby-style tackling game has become popular online in recent months but with deadly consequences. In the game, two players charge head first towards each other over a 20-metre 'battlefield' without any protective equipment or kit. It has become a social media sensation, with organisers touting it as 'the world's fiercest new combat sport'. The aim of the game involves one player trying to tackle and take a rugby ball that their opponent is holding. The rules of the controversial game state: 'Victory belongs tot he one who dominates the collision', but for some players, it has resulted in their premature death. On Monday night a 19-year-old Kiwi man died after suffering a serious head injury in a game inspired by the controversial 'Run It Straight' trend. Ryan Satterthwaite from northern New Zealand passed away on after taking part in the full-contact collision game on Sunday afternoon. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, (pictured) from New Zealand died after suffering a serious head injury in a game inspired by the controversial 'Run It Straight' trend Manawatū Police Inspector Ross Grantham confirmed the young man was playing an impromptu tackle game with friends when the injury occurred. He was taken to hospital by his friends, but could not be saved. The game has been championed by former England rugby player George Burgess, 33 who won £9,500 after competing in a tournament in Australia, according to The Mirror. Burgess who played his last game in the NRL for St George Illawarra three years ago and won 15 caps for England between 2013 and 2018, squared off against giant former winger, Nadolo, who stands at a towering 195cm and weighs approximately 136kg. Nadolo, who was born in Fiji, was capped 30 times for his home country, scoring a whopping 206 points and was renowned for his physicality. Neuroscientist Dr Helen Murray has called the game unacceptably risky. 'There is clearly a high risk of head injury in this event. There's no attempt to reduce head acceleration, so I do not support it,' she told the NZ Herald. Professor Patria Hume, an expert in sports science and injury prevention, said the sport is 'a step backwards'. 'This is a reckless and dangerous spectacle,' she said. 'The science is clear – repeated head impacts increase risk of long-term brain damage.' Run It Straight's founder, Christian Lesa, said community support remains strong despite backlash and stated the game should only be played under strict conditions. Sports star Burgess defended the concept, calling it a safe simulation of past combat. Event spokesperson Billy Coffey said organised competitions involve waivers, pre- and post-medicals, and on-site ambulances. He claimed it gives former athletes a chance to 'get off the couch' and reconnect with their competitive spirit.
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
New Zealand teenager dies after imitating a new tackling game trending on social media
A 19-year-old New Zealand man has died after imitating with friends a new tackling game trending on social media in which competitors run at each other and collide while wearing no protective equipment. Police confirmed Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a head injury on Sunday while playing a backyard game with friends in the North Island city of Palmerston North. He died on Monday as a result of his injuries. Area police commander Inspector Ross Grantham described Satterthwaite's death as 'a huge tragedy' and urged others to 'consider the significant safety and injury risks' of the game which is known as RUNIT or RUNIT Straight. 'A young man lost his life as a result of participating in what I understand to be a social media frenzy,' Grantham said. 'While this is not a criminal matter, police will continue to undertake inquiries on behalf of the coroner,' Grantham said. Grantham said '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. '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.' RUNIT is based loosely on the contact elements of rugby union, rugby league or the NFL and involves two competitors, a runner and a tackler, running at each other and colliding on a 20 metre by four metre (65 foot by 13 foot) area known as a battlefield. Organizers have promoted the event as 'the world's fiercest new collision sport.' The game has grown in social media popularity through the Australian RUNIT Championship League which offers cash prizes to competitors. Two trial events in Auckland in recent weeks saw eight men compete for 20,000 New Zealand dollars ($12,000) in front of more than 1,000 spectators. Winners were expected to go into a championship event next month with prize money of up to 250,000 New Zealand dollars ($150,000). Two other events in Auckland were cancelled when organizers were unable to obtain permits. The RUNIT Championship League released a statement to the New Zealand news website Stuff on Tuesday, saying it 'does not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions.' 'This is tragic news and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ryan. Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts or combat-style activities should only be held in highly controlled environments which include professional medical supervision and support.' RUNIT has been strongly condemned by experts in head injuries who say competitors run a high risk of a serious brain injury.
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Warnings over viral "RUNIT" sports trend after 19-year-old dies of head injury
Wellington, New Zealand — A 19-year-old New Zealand man has died after taking part in a new tackling game that's trending on social media in which competitors run at each other and collide while wearing no protective equipment. Police confirmed Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a head injury on Sunday while playing a backyard game with friends in the North Island city of Palmerston North. He died on Monday as a result of his injuries. Area police commander Inspector Ross Grantham described Satterthwaite's death as "a huge tragedy" and urged others to "consider the significant safety and injury risks" of the game that is known as RUNIT or RUNIT Straight. "A young man lost his life as a result of participating in what I understand to be a social media frenzy," Grantham said. "While this is not a criminal matter, police will continue to undertake inquiries on behalf of the coroner." Grantham said "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. "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." RUNIT is based loosely on the contact elements of rugby union, rugby league or the NFL and involves two competitors, a runner and a tackler, running at each other and colliding on a 65 foot by 13 foot area known as a battlefield. The game has grown in social media popularity through the Australian RUNIT Championship League, which offers cash prizes to competitors. Organizers promote the event as "the world's fiercest new collision sport." Two trial events in Auckland in recent weeks saw eight men compete for 20,000 New Zealand dollars ($12,000) in front of more than 1,000 spectators. Winners were expected to go into a championship event next month with prize money of up to 250,000 New Zealand dollars ($150,000). Two other events in Auckland were canceled when organizers were unable to obtain permits. The RUNIT Championship League released a statement to the New Zealand news website Stuff on Tuesday, saying it "does not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions." "This is tragic news and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ryan. Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts or combat-style activities should only be held in highly controlled environments which include professional medical supervision and support." RUNIT has been strongly condemned by experts in head injuries who say competitors run a high risk of a serious brain injury. It is by no means the first social media-fueled trend to draw safety warnings after a tragedy. Medical experts have been forced to warn people, and young people in particular, about the risks of everything from inhaling solvents to abusing over-the-counter medications and even snorting condoms.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
New Zealand teenager dies imitating collision ‘sport' trending on social media
A 19-year-old New Zealander has died after imitating with friends a new tackling game trending on social media in which competitors run at each other and collide while wearing no protective equipment. Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a head injury on Sunday while playing a backyard game with friends in the North Island city of Palmerston North, police said. He died on Monday as a result of his injuries. Advertisement Area police commander Inspector Ross Grantham described Mr Satterthwaite's death as 'a huge tragedy' and urged others to 'consider the significant safety and injury risks' of the game which is known as RUNIT or RUNIT Straight. 'A young man lost his life as a result of participating in what I understand to be a social media frenzy,' Mr Grantham said. 'While this is not a criminal matter, police will continue to undertake inquiries on behalf of the coroner.' Mr Grantham said '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'. Advertisement '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. RUNIT is based loosely on the contact elements of rugby union, rugby league or the NFL and involves two competitors, a runner and a tackler, running at each other and colliding on a 20-metre by four-metre (65ft by 13ft) area known as a battlefield. Organisers have promoted the event as 'the world's fiercest new collision sport'. The game has grown in social media popularity through the Australian RUNIT Championship League which offers cash prizes to competitors. Advertisement Two trial events in Auckland in recent weeks saw eight men compete for 20,000 New Zealand dollars (£8,800) in front of more than 1,000 spectators. Winners were expected to go into a championship event next month with prize money of up to 250,000 New Zealand dollars (£110,000). Two other events in Auckland were cancelled when organisers were unable to obtain permits. The RUNIT Championship League released a statement to the New Zealand news website Stuff on Tuesday, saying it 'does not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions'. 'This is tragic news and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ryan. Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts or combat-style activities should only be held in highly controlled environments which include professional medical supervision and support,' it read. Advertisement RUNIT has been strongly condemned by experts in head injuries who say competitors run a high risk of a serious brain injury.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Washington Post
New Zealand teenager dies imitating a collision 'sport' trending on social media
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A 19-year-old New Zealand man has died after imitating with friends a new tackling game trending on social media in which competitors run at each other and collide while wearing no protective equipment. Police confirmed Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a head injury on Sunday while playing a backyard game with friends in the North Island city of Palmerston North. He died on Monday as a result of his injuries.
