Shane Christie Dies at 39: Former New Zealand Rugby Star Passes Away

• Shane Christie, a former New Zealand rugby star, has died at 39, leaving the rugby community in mourning
• Christie made his mark with Tasman Mako, Otago Highlanders, Canterbury Crusaders, and the Maori All Blacks, earning a reputation as a natural leader
• He retired in 2017 after a decorated career, with his passing raising questions and speculation about his health and legacy

Former New Zealand rugby player Shane Christie has died at the age of 39. He was found dead in his home in Nelson.

Police confirmed on Wednesday, 27 August, that Christie succumbed to the effects of multiple concussions.

Reports from New Zealand have speculated on his death, with some suggesting he might have committed suicide.

“The death will be referred to the coroner, and we have no further information or comment we can provide,” said police.

New Zealand Rugby described his passing as a loss that would be “deeply felt across the community.”

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Look at the tweet below:

Christie's struggle with CTE

Christie, who retired in 2017, reportedly suffered headaches, memory lapses, speech problems, depression, and mood swings consistent with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

He had expressed a desire to donate his brain to the New Zealand Sports Human Brain Bank for studies into CTE, a degenerative disease caused by repetitive head trauma that cannot be detected in living people.

Hundreds of former NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE, which has been linked to behavioural issues, depression, and several violent deaths. A 2023 study from the Boston University CTE Centre examined 376 former NFL players' brains, finding that 345 showed signs of the disease.

As shown in the tweet below:

How did Christie get into New Zealand rugby?

Christie made his mark in New Zealand rugby, starting with the Tasman Mako before joining the Otago Highlanders, Canterbury Crusaders, and the Maori All Blacks.

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In 2016, he became an important part of the Highlanders team demonstrating his influence both on and off the field. He captained the Tasman side and led it to the ITM Championship in 2013, etching his name in the club’s folklore and proving himself a born leader.

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His career took a turn for the worse in 2017–18 when repeated concussions left him struggling with headaches, memory gaps, blurred vision, and speech difficulties, ultimately forcing him into retirement.

Meanwhile, the Springboks will face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September, before meeting them again in Wellington on 13 September. Both fixtures are crucial as South Africa aims to defend its Rugby Championship title.

Head coach Erasmus has retained faith in the players who featured in the opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches against Australia. The Boks lost 38-22 to the Wallabies in Ellis Park but bounced back with a 30-22 win in Cape Town on 23 August.

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Matt Williams lashes out at Rassie Erasmus

Briefly News previously reported that former Scotland coach and long-time Springboks critic Matt Williams has lashed out at Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that tensions have flared between the two. The feud, which has gained public attention, began with Williams’ criticism of Erasmus and the Springboks’ style of play, particularly targeting the tactics used by both the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions during the 2021 Test series.

Source: Briefly News