Shane Christie in 2011
Photo: PhotoSport / Chris Symes
Warning: This story contains discussion of suicide
A rugby player who died today believed he was suffering from the same neurodegenerative brain condition diagnosed in a team-mate who died by suspected suicide.
Former Highlanders flanker and Tasman NPC captain Shane Christie has died aged 39.
The Tasman Rugby Union confirmed his death today.
Christie played 29 matches for the Highlanders between 2014-2016 and was part of their Super Rugby winning side of 2015, although he spent the majority of that campaign sidelined with injury.
He also played 73 times for Tasman over seven seasons, before retiring due to concussion-related symptoms. He skippered Tasman to their first NPC title in 2013.
Police have confirmed they attended a sudden death in Nelson at 8.20am this morning.
“The death will be referred to the coroner and we have no further information or comment we can provide.”
Christie was a close friend of Billy Guyton, the former Blues and New Zealand Māori halfback, who died in 2023 aged 33 of suspected suicide.
In 2024, the late Guyton became the first New Zealand-based professional rugby player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following an examination on his brain.
Billy Guyton in 2013.
Photo: photosport
Christie posted several stories on social media documenting his battles with concussion and his fears that he was suffering from CTE, which can not be diagnosed until death.
In March 2024 Christie said he believed he was suffering from the same neurodegenerative brain condition that was diagnosed in the post-mortem of Guyton.
Christie said his own well-being plummeted in the wake of Guyton’s death.
“My concussion symptoms had significantly worsened since learning of Billy’s tragic death on May 13, 2023,” he wrote.
“Over the months of May to September 2023, I gradually exhausted my brain’s energy and cognitive capacity, pushing myself to a point where I became delusional and paranoid.
“During a critical twelve-day period in early to mid-September, I experienced four manic, psychotic events. These events not only exacerbated my symptoms but also became increasingly radical and difficult to comprehend.”
After years of struggling with fatigue, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts post-retirement, Christie came to the following conclusion.
“As I now understand the effects that concussion had on Billy’s brain and witnessing the drastic changes in his life, I can only assume that I’ve developed CTE myself.”
Christie took it upon himself to raise awareness and advocate for players.
In another social media post in March 2024, he said “duty of care for players” needed to be better.
“So every weekend you got to put your bodies on the line lads, if you want better care for each other during and after rugby it’s going to be up to yous to reach out and ask for it.
“It’s not really for me lads, it’s for the players that are still currently playing, about to finish and people like Bill that are really struggling out there.”
In April last year he said he was trying to show “New Zealand Rugby, Players Association, ACC how players are having issues for multiple years about having concussion problems”.
“When you go to a specialist and you’ve had ongoing concussion problems, we’re not getting treated with CTE diagnosis or probable.
“And it means the treatment is non existent, instead of getting daily plans of how to recover or things that we need to do to monitor our health, reducing cognitive overload or stress, things like that, that can be practically implemented into our lifestyles, we just get told there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Three members of the 2016 Māori All Blacks team have died – Christie, Guyton and Sean Wainui, who died at McLaren Falls Park, near Tauranga in October 2021. The coroner has yet to rule on Wainui’s death.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666
Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds
Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463
Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.