The competition is built around actions seen in rugby union, rugby league, the NFL and AFL. Opposing individuals – a ball runner and a tackler – stand at each end of a 20m x 4m field, and run full speed at each other with the goal of trying to bowl each other over.
RUNIT Championship League released a statement to Stuff on Tuesday afternoon after news of Satterthwaite’s death was made public, saying it did “not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions”.
I don't know what to say in response to that. Nobody (even a teenager) who actually thought about it would read this and think it sounds like a good idea. As a dad to a teenage son, it hits a bit close to home - feeling terrible for the family, but also wondering how you teach a teenage boy not do such stupid stuff.
I remember being young and invulnerable as well. I think teenage me could have been talked into doing this. That kid was an idiot.