NSW Supreme Court blocks Run Nation Championship collision event

The NSW Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the Combat Sports Authority to cancel the upcoming Run Nation Championship event scheduled for this Saturday at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse. The court dismissed a judicial review launched by organizers who argued that the competition—which involves contestants, primarily former rugby players, running at each other to collide at speed—did not qualify as a combat sport under state law.

Justice Andrew Coleman ruled that the essence of the activity is a collision, stating that describing the contact as a ‘tackle’ does not change the fact that it is a collision sport. The regulator had previously issued a notice to cancel the event due to non-compliance with required rules for staging combat sports.

Health experts have raised concerns that the sport is potentially life-threatening, noting a similar ‘run it straight’ trend resulted in a fatality in New Zealand last year. Run Nation CEO Tremaine Fernandez stated that while the specific event is postponed, the organization intends to work with the Combat Sports Authority to continue the sport. Ticket holders will have the option of automatic carries to a future date or refunds.