My Perspective: If we’re going to Run It Straight, lets Run It Smart

Earlier this week, former professional league player Kevin Proctor was knocked unconscious during a Run It Straight event in Dubai.

For those who aren't familiar, Run It Straight is a brutal collision contest where two willing, and that's the key word here, participants charge directly at each other. One with the ball, the other tackling.

The aim? Be the last one standing. It's a spectacle that's proved hugely popular among Pacific communities. I remember growing up hearing Run It Straight shouted on school fields and backyards or at family gatherings.

It was fun, but it could also be unforgiving. With the sport going global and prize money growing, we're at a crossroads. Do we try to ban it outright, or do we look at how to keep it safe for those who choose, willingly, to take part while still giving the crowd what they came to see?

Sure, you could ban it, but people will find a way to do it anyway, just like we did as kids. In my view, a smarter option is to work alongside organisers and players to put clear rules in place.

Good medical checks, proper protective gear, and strong oversight won't take away the thrill, but they might just protect lives.

If we're going to run it straight, let's run it smart, too.

That's My Perspective. Sanele Chadwick is a guest host on Pacific Mornings.

Listen to his 'My Perspective' below.