Latest news with #RUNIT
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
NRL premiership winner Kevin Proctor knocked out as controversial ‘Run It Straight' craze continues
NRL premiership winner Kevin Proctor has been knocked out in a 'Run It Straight' competition in Dubai. The controversial viral craze received heavy backlash last month when a New Zealand teenager died during an impromptu version of the game. Watch the video above: NRL premiership winner knocked out as controversial craze continues. But the Runit Championship League has continued with $200,000 in prize money on offer. The latest event took place over the weekend, with Proctor on the wrong end of his clash with influencer Jordan Simi. Medical personnel rushed to help the 36-year-old. Proctor won the 2012 grand final with the Melbourne Storm and played for the Gold Coast Titans in a lengthy NRL career, which ended when he was caught vaping at half-time of a game while sidelined. The long-time New Zealand international later joined Wakefield in the English Super League. The 'Run It Straight' trend also appeared on the hill at Brookvale Oval during a Manly Sea Eagles NRL game. Sea Eagles chief executive Tony Mestrov said anyone found to have been involved would be banned. Dr Alan Pearce, who has worked with NRL players on concussions, said he was 'speechless'. 'I'm pretty appalled by what we're seeing and I'm really concerned about the health of the people undertaking this activity,' he told Sunrise. 'There's no medical attention nearby if something happened.' Pearce said it was made worse by the apparent levels of intoxication. 'Beer and head injuries do not mix,' he said. 'This is what we're seeing now and this is something we've been concerned about surrounding the Run It events. 'Things like this will be happening everywhere now and they're not checked properly. That's the concern.' While some of those filmed participating at the NRL game appeared to be grown men, Pearce said he fears for kids and even young adults involved in the trend. 'The damage to a young brain is potentially profound and catastrophic,' he said. 'With young people, kids up to the age of 20, there's a risk of what we call 'second impact syndrome'. 'Even though you might get a hit to the head and not necessarily think that there's anything going on, having a second hit to the head in a rapid time period after — it might be a few minutes, it could be 15 minutes — could be potentially life-threatening. 'This is something we are really worried about.' Other experts have also slammed the trend. Injury prevention expert Professor Patria Hume called the trend a 'reckless and dangerous spectacle' and 'a step backwards' in sport safety. 'We've spent years building evidence-based strategies to reduce head and neck injuries in rugby and contact sports,' she said. 'This event ignores all of that.' In response to the death of New Zealand teenager Ryan Satterthwaite, Runit Championship League said the sport 'should only be held in highly controlled environments, which include professional medical supervision and support'. 'All RUNIT events follow established protocols including screening of participants for suitability, strict guidelines around where and how to tackle (between the shoulders and hips only), with qualified medical support and medical assessments conducted both during and after competition,' the competition said. 'We do not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions outlined above in sanctioned RUNIT events.'
Courier-Mail
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Kevin Proctor knocked out at RUNIT event by Jordan Simi in Dubai
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former NRL veteran and 22 Test Kiwis forward Kevin Proctor was sensationally knocked out in scary scenes by social media influencer Jordan Simi at RUNIT 02 in Dubai overnight. The pair took part in an exhibition run it straight challenge at the big-money event early on Sunday morning, Australian time. In footage posted to social media, Proctor, who is defending, drives his right shoulder into the ball-carrying Simi. But the former Melbourne Storm and Gold Coast Titans backrower comes off second best, as he spins in the air after contact and lands heavily on the ground. Proctor appears to be knocked out as he hits the floor, with his arms and legs going stiff in sickening scenes. A small crew of medics and officials rush to the 36-year-old's side as he struggles to sit back up. A former lower grade rugby league player, Simi is also an artist and has become a social media influencer. Kevin Proctor's collision with Jordan Simi. Picture: Supplied/Instagram He also stepped into the boxing ring opposite Justin Hodges in 2022, losing a four-round unanimous decision. Proctor played 283 NRL games for the Storm and Titans in a 15-year footy career. He was sacked by the Titans after he posted a video to his Instagram story of himself vaping in the toilets during the halftime break of the Titans' loss to the Bulldogs in 2022. Proctor wasn't playing, but was 19th man when he captioned the video: 'Not the halftime vape'. He quickly deleted it, but was soon released by the Titans. One of the most controversial new combat sports on the planet, RUNIT staged its second event in Dubai, just a month after a New Zealand teenager died after playing a run it straight style game with friends. Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, passed away after suffering a severe brain injury while playing an impromptu game in Palmerston North. RUNIT event organisers are quick to point out they have highly trained medical staff at all their events, as well as testing before and afterwards. Organisers also provide a tackling technique coach, while all competitors were 'selected and screened' by an 'athlete manager'. RUNIT has branded itself as the 'world's fiercest new collision sport' and has gained an immense online following in just a few months. But it has also copped an intense backlash from CTE experts, while the New Zealand Warriors, Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby League have all distanced themselves from it. RUNIT and its deep-pocketed investors and sponsors flew eight athletes to Dubai, with $200,000 on offer for first place, while second took home $50,000 and third prize was $25,000. Originally published as Former NRL star Kevin Proctor suffers sickening KO by social media influencer at RUNIT event in Dubai
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Former NRL star Kevin Proctor suffers sickening KO by social media influencer at RUNIT event in Dubai
Former NRL veteran and 22 Test Kiwis forward Kevin Proctor was sensationally knocked out in scary scenes by social media influencer Jordan Simi at RUNIT 02 in Dubai overnight. The pair took part in an exhibition run it straight challenge at the big-money event early on Sunday morning, Australian time. In footage posted to social media, Proctor, who is defending, drives his right shoulder into the ball-carrying Simi. But the former Melbourne Storm and Gold Coast Titans backrower comes off second best, as he spins in the air after contact and lands heavily on the ground. Proctor appears to be knocked out as he hits the floor, with his arms and legs going stiff in sickening scenes. A small crew of medics and officials rush to the 36-year-old's side as he struggles to sit back up. A former lower grade rugby league player, Simi is also an artist and has become a social media influencer. He also stepped into the boxing ring opposite Justin Hodges in 2022, losing a four-round unanimous decision. Proctor played 283 NRL games for the Storm and Titans in a 15-year footy career. He was sacked by the Titans after he posted a video to his Instagram story of himself vaping in the toilets during the halftime break of the Titans' loss to the Bulldogs in 2022. Proctor wasn't playing, but was 19th man when he captioned the video: 'Not the halftime vape'. He quickly deleted it, but was soon released by the Titans. One of the most controversial new combat sports on the planet, RUNIT staged its second event in Dubai, just a month after a New Zealand teenager died after playing a run it straight style game with friends. RUNIT and its deep-pocketed investors and sponsors flew eight athletes to Dubai, with $200,000 on offer for first place, while second took home $50,000 and third prize was $25,000.
1News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Run It Championship final moved from Auckland to Dubai
The organisers of the controversial Run It competition have announced its final will be moved from Auckland to Dubai, offering a prize of $200,000 to the winner. It comes amid calls for the activity to be banned. Brain health experts have been highly critical of the events, and criticisms of it have grown following the death of a 19-year-old, who was killed while playing an impromptu version of the game, which had been popularised on social media. In a post to Instagram, the Australia-based Runit Championship League, which organised two events in Auckland, revealed its final would be held in Dubai instead of Auckland later this month. George Burgess, a former NRL star and England international who had been working with the organisation, told NZ Herald the organisation would pay for the finalists' flights to the Middle East. ADVERTISEMENT A man takes a tackle while participating in an Auckland RUNIT event. (Source: Photosport) Run It held two trial events at Trusts Arena last month, where the winners took home $20,000. The venue pulled out of hosting the final, citing safety concerns. Run It advertised itself as the world's "fiercest, new collision sport". Participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear, running at each other and attempting to "dominate the collision". The game came under increased scrutiny following the death of 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite, who died in hospital after suffering a serious head injury playing an impromptu version of it. Its arrival on New Zealand shores led to worries about brain injuries. ADVERTISEMENT Stacey Mowbray, chief executive of brain injury support group Headway, called the activity "dangerous by design", describing it on Breakfast as 'glamorised, glorified, intentional violence'. Stacey Mowbray of Headway said Ryan Satterthwaite's death was an 'absolute tragedy' but wasn't surprised it happened. (Source: 1News) 'There is no way to do this safely." She said the activity carried a risk of 'immediate brain injury' or death for the participants Following Satterthwaite's death, RUNIT said its events followed established protocols, which included the screening of participants for suitability, strict guidelines around where and how to tackle (between the shoulders and hips only), as well as having medical support and assessments both during and after competition. "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. "We do not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions outlined above in sanctioned RUNIT events."
Sydney Morning Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The seven friends taking Run It Straight from the schoolyard to the world
RUNIT has held two events to date, one in Melbourne's Pavilion and the other in Auckland's Trust Arena. The next event, which will be held overseas at a venue yet to be confirmed, will offer prizemoney of $200,000 for the winner, $50,000 for second place and $25,000 for third. From humble beginnings, the company now employs coaches, recruiters, doctors, marketing, public relations and event managers. 'We are a start-up company,' a RUNIT spokesperson said. 'And like most start-ups we have brought in some investors who believe in the product. The initial investment is aimed at growing our brand internationally.' Former South Sydney Rabbitohs star George Burgess and Fijian former rugby player Nemani Nadolo competed against each other in RUNIT's first event in Melbourne and are now representatives of the company. 'I think it's a great concept. I always loved that part of the game, the kickoff carries and the collision,' said Burgess on Channel 10's The Project earlier this month. 'I think there's some improvements we can definitely make, with making sure the competitors are prepared and ready to go, and they've got the right technique.' Despite its big-name backers and booming popularity, the Run It Straight craze has drawn criticism after 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died attempting a tackle in a backyard in New Zealand. Concussion experts say brain injury can still occur without direct hits to the head, and medical treatment afterwards is too late. 'We have some real concerns around what is known as second impact syndrome where an impact of the brain can put it into vulnerable state, and then a short time after if they get another hit to the brain it will certainly result in death – and that's what we saw in New Zealand the weekend before,' said concussion expert Alan Pearce, a professor at Melbourne's Swinburne University. RUNIT says their competitions are carried out under strict supervision and that all their competitors are experienced. They do not encourage anyone to copy their events. 'We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of Ryan Satterthwaite … this is a tragic reminder that 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,' said a RUNIT spokesperson. RUNIT says all its participants are screened for suitability before competing in different weight classes, and only tackles between the shoulders and hips are allowed. The company provides technique training and have qualified medical support on site during and after each round. UTS Sports marketing expert Dr Andy West believes RUNIT needs to maintain its social media momentum if it is to become a legitimate sport. 'There is that element of danger [in Run It Straight events], and real injury there, this sort of gladiatorial side of things that people are attracted to,' said West. 'They'll have to be able to get that balance. '[In order to] remain legitimate and keep that sort of social contagion that's going that people are interested to watch, they'll need to be keep that real level of excitement, but also that dangerous element to it.' Loading RUNIT attributes its success to the short, sharp, explosive nature of the contests, which make it perfect to share across social media such TikTok and Instagram. Their next goal is to take RUNIT to the US. 'It is new, it is exciting, it's short form, and it is daring,' the spokesperson said. 'There is a level of understanding and skill required to participate, but there's also brute strength and bravery. We believe the RUNIT Championship League has enormous potential to be the next big sports and entertainment product.'
