RUNIT Championship League is Melbourne’s hard-hitting new combat sport

A brutal rugby tradition has become Melbourne’s newest combat sport, with two competitors running full speed at each other to try to knock the other to the ground.

Melbourne is set to host the first major event for a brutal new combat sport which touts high profile AFL and NRL stars among its growing legion of fans.

The RUNIT Championship League sees two players charge at each other in a series of ‘run-it-straight’ challenges with the winner successfully tackling or running over their opponent in a hard-hitting collision.

Organisers believe the competition is set to be the next big thing in combat sports and could one day rival the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

While the practice of “running-it-straight” has been a popular pastime for rugby players, RUNIT promotes itself as the first official league of its kind with Melbourne set to stage the inaugural competition next week.

AFL and NRL stars including Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and former Rabbitoh George Burgess have thrown their support behind the event saying it was a “must watch” sport.

RUNIT competitor Phillip Poligerinos and RUNIT co-owner Rennie Molimau clash in a ‘run-it-straight’ challenge. Picture by Wayne Taylor

A brutal collision in a RUNIT league match. Picture: Supplied

Ugle-Hagan has become an ambassador for the league, telling the Herald Sun aside from the spectacle, RUNIT had a special family and community feel connected with it.

“It’s a must watch sport as it has never been a thing and there’s a great opportunity for people to show their strength,” Ugle-Hagan said.

When asked if he fancied his chances against those competing in RUNIT, Ugle-Hagan said he backed himself but quipped he would “just stick to football”.

Plenty of other big name stars are set to fill out the Melbourne Pavilion on April 30, with a crowd of 350 expected for the event.

Eight eligible competitors, weighing between 115 kgs and 135 kgs, will face off in a tournament-style competition, with the winner set to walk away with a $20,000 cash prize.

Players will charge at each other along an 18m grass runway for four rounds, with players taking turns carrying a rugby ball each round.

Unlike most ‘run-it-straight’ challenges, RUNIT has a set of strict rules, with judges scoring collisions and medical staff waiting to assess players before and after each hit.

To celebrate the launch, Burgess and former Fijian Super Rugby star Nemani Nadolo will also face off in a special ‘run-it-straight’ bout prior to the competition’s final.

It is understood Burgess agreed to participate after he was dared by a mate to compete.

RUNIT co-owners Rennie Molimau and Virgil Tauaa said they had modelled the league off the success of the World Arm Wrestling League and Power Slap, with the latter being worth over $1bn.

RUNIT has already attracted 50,000 followers on social media with fans tuning in to watch the spine tingling highlights seen throughout early selection trials hosted around Melbourne.

Mr Molimau told the Herald Sun they hoped to create a “colosseum-like” experience at their inaugural event, hoping it would replicate the atmosphere of a boxing match.

“Fans should expect a jam-packed, action-packed night, it’ll be one to remember,” he said.

Mr Tauaa said he, like many other pacific islanders, had grown up doing the ‘run-it-straight’ challenge and when the idea was pitched to turn it into a league, he knew they were onto something big.

“It's a test of strength, but ego and pride do come into it … otherwise it’s just a fun game to play,” he said.

“We played it as kids growing up, now fast forward all these years, people’s attention span is decreasing and some people find it harder to sit through an 80-minute game of rugby league.

“Fans come for the big collisions and big runs.”