New Zealand teenager dies during new viral rugby-style game
All Blacks rugby ball on a New Zealand flag.
A New Zealand teenager has died following a serious head injury sustained in a Run It Straight challenge, police have confirmed.
The 19-year-old died in hospital after taking part in the viral game with friends.
New Zealand teenager dies following injury in run-it-straight game
The Run It Straight challenge is a game where two players, one attacker and one defender, run straight into each other to either make a tackle or score a try. The game has typically been played among friends, however, it has recently exploded in popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok.
“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.”
While the incident which led to the death of the 19-year-old took place in an unofficial game, official competitions have also become hugely popular across Australia and New Zealand, with the Runit League Championship recently drawing in a crowd of 1000 people.
It has also seen ex-professionals across both rugby union and rugby league compete in matches too, with former Fijian international Nemani Nadolo going head-to-head with ex-South Sydney Rabbitohs man and England international George Burgess.
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The challenge continues to grow in popularity among young people in the South Pacific, too, with Kimami Ngaluafe, the organiser of Up the Guts NZ, a run-it-straight competition in New Zealand, detailing that it is becoming their go-to sport to play in the backyard.
“It’s a Kiwi national backyard sport. The boys are currently playing as we speak,” he told the BBC.
He added: “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.”
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