NSW parliamentary inquiry probes emerging combat and collision-based sports

A NSW parliamentary inquiry has heard that controversial emerging combat sports, notorious for head-injury risks, are prepared to accept regulation, despite some medical experts calling for them to be blacklisted entirely.

NSW Sport Minister Steve Kamper referred activities like collision running, bare-knuckle boxing, and competitive slapping to a committee to investigate if they should be brought further under the control of the state’s Combat Sport Authority (CSA).

On Friday, CSA chair Darren Kane told a hearing that the sports should be subject to stronger controls.

“These sports are dangerous, there’s no way of hiding behind that … but rugby league’s dangerous, and cricket’s dangerous, thoroughbred racing is dangerous,” he said.

“There’s a very good reason why an ambulance follows every race around the inside of a racetrack, to make sure that they’re on hand if a jockey falls off.

Under heavy scrutiny at the hearing was collision running — where two athletes run at each other and collide.

Neurologist Rowena Mobbs urged the committee to ban the sports being investigated, due to risks of brain injury like concussion, especially in collision running.

“I cannot see that it’s a fundamental activity of a human to run at a brick wall, let alone a brick wall coming at you,” Dr Mobbs said.

“I just can’t see any sense in that.”

Organisers from the Run Nation Championship (RNC), a prominent collision running event, did not participate in the inquiry, nor did power slap organisers.

Mr Kane noted in his evidence that RNC had been working collaboratively with the CSA for an upcoming planned event in Sydney.

Boxing offshoot

The organisers of two fight groups gave evidence at the hearing — GTG Fight Club and Bare Knuckle Australia (BKA).

BKA spokesman Michael McConnell said there was reluctance in the community around regulation, but that it would be necessary to continue growing the sport.

“We can do this safely, and everyone can be looked after in the best way possible,” he said.

BKA said their bouts included vetted fighters, who were matched up by weight class and had their abilities assessed through gloved-up test fights.

The fighters were then paired up and fought without traditional boxing gloves.

BKA co-founder Randall Rayment said he was hesitant about regulation and wanted governments to “back off”.

But he said he wanted the government to understand the positive outlet that bare-knuckle-style boxing could be for men who wanted a controlled environment to express themselves.

Harm minimisation

Organisers of the sports being examined have claimed the presence of medical staff at events was a harm-prevention strategy.

But in her evidence, Dr Mobbs refuted that argument.

“I state that no doctor on the sideline will be able to modify the risk of traumatic brain injury in either collision sports or power slap,” she said.

In a written submission, the Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) NSW branch said it did not endorse any of the sports in question, but it believed regulations were needed.

“Emerging activities typically magnify the most violent aspects of established sports, and thus present a significant public health concern,” the AMA submission said.

“The NSW government should invest in evidence-based public education campaigns to increase awareness of the short-term and long-term health consequences of concussion, repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury associated with emerging combat sports and comparable activities.”

Dr Mobbs and other medical bodies that made submissions agreed that education was crucial.

Social benefit

Sione Tongia and Stephen Gardiner have faced off in a BKA fight, but consider themselves close mates.

“I feel like at the end of the day, we’re boxing; we just don’t have gloves on,” Mr Gardiner said.

Mr Tongia said he felt bare-knuckle events should remain to provide a place for young men to channel aggression and differences.

“I guarantee you that two people who have beef, after they fight each other, they feel good, they feel better,” he said.

“When I fight, I don’t fight for beef.

The parliamentary committee will hand down its findings in a report by the end of 2026.