Run It Championship Final Relocates from Auckland to Dubai

Photo: PhotoSport

The organizers of the controversial Run It Championship League have announced that the $200,000 “Run It Straight” final will no longer take place in Auckland, but has been moved to Dubai later this month. This decision follows mounting safety concerns, fierce public criticism, and a tragic fatality linked to the spectacle.

The Australia‑based Runit Championship League held two trial events at Trusts Arena in West Auckland during May, awarding $20,000 to each winner. However, after local authorities and medical experts raised alarms—and in the wake of the death of 19‑year‑old Ryan Satterthwaite from a head injury sustained in an impromptu backyard game—the venue withdrew its support and safety approval for the final.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the League confirmed the shift to Dubai and assured that all eight finalists’ flights and accommodations would be funded by the organizers. Former NRL star George Burgess, who has been advising the League, emphasized that the move was necessary to ensure the event could proceed without further local restrictions.

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Run It Straight has been marketed as the world’s “fiercest new collision sport,” pitting one runner against another in full‑speed contact on a narrow 20 m×4 m “battlefield.” Critics, including neurologists and sports bodies, have likened the impacts to car crashes and called for a complete ban, citing high risks of brain injury.

The League’s abrupt pivot to Dubai underscores both its ambitions for global expansion and the regulatory hurdles it faces. Promotional material had hinted at future stops in America, Saudi Arabia, and the UK—but those listings have since been removed from the official website, reflecting a strategic retreat amid controversy.

Dubai authorities have not yet confirmed the exact date or venue for the final, but insiders suggest it will take place in a large indoor arena with enhanced medical support and stricter safety protocols. The League insists it will comply with all local regulations and that its insurance will cover any injuries sustained.

Despite assurances, leading sports doctors remain skeptical. “You cannot simulate the human brain’s vulnerability to collision in a controlled environment,” said Dr. Stephen Kara, a neurology consultant. “Relocating won’t eliminate the fundamental dangers of head‑on impacts”.

• Final Date & Venue Announcement: Expected within days via the League’s social channels.

• Safety Oversight: Dubai’s sports commission will conduct a formal review of medical and emergency plans.

• Global Eye: All eyes are on whether the event will indeed deliver on its high‑octane promise or prompt fresh calls for regulation.

The world watches as this bold experiment in extreme sport attempts to reinvent itself on the global stage—this time under the watchful gaze of Dubai’s authorities.