# A teenager has died in New Zealand after taking part in a rugby-inspired craze that sees participants sprint into each other head-on with no protective gear. Fuelled by social media and sometimes playing out in front of large crowds, the “run-it-straight” challenge has swept across New Zealand and Australia. Organised run-it-straight competitions offer thousands of dollars in prize money but the trend has ignited fears of concussion and other serious injuries. A 19-year-old died in New Zealand’s North Island after playing the game with friends over the weekend.
New Zealand teenager dies in rugby-inspired social media craze