NZ Teen Dies Copying Viral Rugby Tackle Challenge: What Is Collision Sport RUNIT Straight?

Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 13:37 IST

RUNIT Straight has grown in social media popularity through an Australian league which offers cash prizes to competitors. Experts say competitors run a risk of serious brain injury

RUNIT involves two competitors, a runner and a tackler, running at each other and colliding head-on on a battlefield. (RUNIT/Instagram)

Ryan Satterthwaite, a 19-year-old from New Zealand, died after imitating with friends a new rugby-inspired tackling game trending on social media, RUNIT or RUNIT Straight, in which competitors run at each other and collide head-on to knock the other person down while wearing no protective equipment.

Police confirmed 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.

WHAT IS RUNIT?

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 head-on on a 20 metre by four metre (65 foot by 13 foot) 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.

PLAYERS CAN’T

TRIAL EVENTS, PRIZE MONEY

Two trial events in Auckland in recent weeks saw eight men compete for 20,000 New Zealand dollars (USD 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 (USD 150,000).

Two other events in Auckland were cancelled when organisers were unable to obtain permits.

WHAT RUNNIT SAID

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."

EXPERTS, POLICE WARN OF RISKS

RUNIT has been strongly condemned by experts in head injuries who say competitors run a high risk of a serious brain injury.

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."

With AP inputs

News world NZ Teen Dies Copying Viral Rugby Tackle Challenge: What Is Collision Sport RUNIT Straight?