Adolescent from New Zealand perishes following involvement in rugby-triggered fad
In New Zealand and Australia, the dangerous "run-it-straight" challenge, driven by social media, has gained notoriety. The game has led to concerns about concussions and other serious injuries, with a 19-year-old fatality in New Zealand's North Island reported over the weekend.
Police inspector Ross Grantham confirmed the death, stating that the young man suffered a serious head injury after being tackled during an unplanned game among friends. The game, resembling a social media-driven trend, involves participants competing in full-contact collisions without protective gear.
While organized run-it-straight competitions offer lucrative prize money, they have come under scrutiny due to the significant safety risks involved. Some former professional rugby players have shown interest in these events, with Leicester and Montpellier winger Nemani Nadolo participating in one earlier this year.
Safety experts liken the craze to a combat sport, warning about the potential for severe concussions. One Australian-based competition claims to be the "world's fiercest, new collision sport," with one player running towards a tackler from 20 meters apart.
Last week, a run-it-straight event in Auckland was temporarily halted when a participant began convulsing on the ground, according to local media. Brain injury charity Headway has denounced the competitions, stating that videos of the games show participants going into seizures and exhibiting obvious signs of brain injury.
The rapid growth of this trend has sparked concern as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries, becomes increasingly recognized in sports. CTE causes violent moods, dementia, and depression, while injuries from head blows have also been linked to other disorders such as motor neurone disease, early-onset dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease.
Medical professionals and experts strongly advocate against the challenge due to the high risk of head injuries and potential for long-term neurological damage. The creation of leagues and cash prizes for winners further encourages participation, increasing the prevalence of these events despite the evident risks.
- The dangerous "run-it-straight" challenge, likening to a combat sport, has gained notoriety in sports, with minimal concern for mental-health and health-and-wellness.
- The recent fatality in New Zealand's North Island and incidents of seizures among participants have raised red flags about the safety of these unplanned games, sparking concerns in the realm of general-news.
- The rise of run-it-straight competitions, offering lucrative therapies-and-treatments for winners, has come under scrutiny for its significant safety risks, particularly in the field of science and medicine.
- As CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries, becomes increasingly recognized in sports, the push for organized run-it-straight competitions highlights the need for stricter regulations and education about the potential long-term neurological damage associated with these types of accidents.
