WELLINGTON — A New Zealand coroner has condemned the dangerous, rugby-style “Runit” game, where players sprint 20 metres and collide head-on without protective gear. The warning follows the death of 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite, who suffered fatal head injuries during an unsanctioned event in May.

Coroner Bruce Hesketh, though not investigating Satterthwaite's case directly, called Runit a perilous activity lacking safety protocols, regulation, and concussion awareness. Unlike rugby, where contact is minimized, Runit glorifies collisions.

The Australia-based Runit Championship League recently expanded to New Zealand, offering NZ$200,000 in prize money and drawing large crowds. In its Auckland debut, two players were knocked out, and one suffered seizures from a head injury.

Amid backlash and police warnings, the league moved its June 28 final to Dubai’s Agenda Arena, flying in all participants.