A new contact sport known as the Runit Championship League is set to debut in Auckland this week, drawing criticism from some quarters for its brutal format, which sees participants run full speed at each other in a confined arena.
Touted as the “world’s fiercest new sport” and already viral online, the competition promises a $200,000 grand prize but has raised alarm among neuroscientists and sports safety experts due to the high risk of head injuries.
While organizers insist on professional standards and athlete vetting, critics warn the spectacle prioritises entertainment over safety, with knockouts already reported in earlier events.
The league has global ambitions, planning future events in the U.S., UK, and Middle East.
When I was a kid, and that was a long time ago , we used to call it Bull Rush.
And it was heaps of fun, and only one or two sustained any serious injuries, mainly from mum when she found out. 😂😂
Boys will be boys
Bad enough that ridiculous macho attitudes encourage young men to participate. It’s a whole different level when it’s commercialized. Someone is making money — at no risk to themselves — off an activity that can and does kill.
Hey let’s reinstate sword fighting and throwing people to the lions.