New Zealand teen dies in viral 'rugby collision' challenge
28 May 2025, 09:00
A 19-year-old New Zealander has died after a 'serious head injury' sustained in a viral social media rugby trend.
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The teenager, identified in local media as Ryan Satterthwaite, died in hospital on Monday after playing a game of "run it straight" in Palmerston North.
The game has two players, one with a ball and the other the tackler, who tries to knock the other player down.
"Run it straight" has recently become popular as a viral online trend and has long been played in Australia and New Zealand.
"We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks," Manawatū 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."
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Mr Grantham added it was not a police matter, but officers will "continue to undertake enquiries on behalf of the coroner".
The match sees two players running head first towards each other over a 65-foot field without any protective equipment or kit.
It's even been endorsed by some professional rugby players, with England rugby player George Burgess, 33, winning £9,500 after competing in an Australian tournament, according to The Mirror.
Ryan was rushed to hospital by friends after the match on Sunday and died the following day.
One tournament, the Runit Championship League, described the game as the "fiercest, new collision sport".
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 told the NZ Herald.
"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 said the game should only be played under strict and regulated conditions.
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