RUNIT

A new sports league has sprung up. Originally from Australia, the RUNIT League is a platform for “professional sports running.” The game consists of two players, typically large men, running full speed at one another and colliding. One player, the “runner”, carries a rugby ball in hand and faces off against the “defender.” Each player switches off after each collision, though it is not clear the exact purpose of the ball in the sport. Winners are declared by judges scoring who executed each crash better according to a set of criteria. Of course, players also win if their opponent is unfit to continue the fight. 

This brings the conversation to the most controversial element of this new sport, the damage to players. Compilation videos have been posted online of players getting knocked out brutally by the contact, sometimes both players at the same time. There is no protective equipment used (something the official website touts proudly as a testament to the pure masculinity of the sport), so the damage done to the athletes is severe indeed. It seems like there is very little skill involved in this activity, rather a contest of masses than minds. It brings to mind the failed “slap-fighting” events that UFC founder Dana White tried to make popular several years back. Only this time the damage is even more extreme. Time will tell if this violent game breaks out into the mainstream, but until then the promoters will have to subsist off sketchier sponsorships like Kik and Stake.