Rugby Community Mourns Shane Christie, Advocate for Player Welfare

Shane Christie, a former flanker for the Tasman Mako and Highlanders, has been remembered as a courageous leader and advocate for player welfare during his funeral service in Nelson. Christie passed away unexpectedly last week at the age of 39, leaving a profound impact on the rugby community and beyond.

Christie, who retired from professional rugby in 2017 due to severe post-concussion symptoms, had become a prominent voice for the understanding and prevention of brain injuries within the sport. He publicly expressed concerns about potentially suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma.

Tributes Highlight Christie’s Legacy

Hundreds gathered at the Trafalgar Centre to pay their respects, including family, friends, former teammates, and notable figures from the sport. Tributes poured in, emphasizing Christie’s loyalty, caring nature, and the lasting influence he had on his teams. Tasman Mako captain David Havili described Christie as the ultimate teammate, stating, “You taught us the values of mateship, a team-first mentality, and standing up for your people.” He added, “Your legacy will live on forever at this club. Rest easy, our great mate. Thank you for being you.”

Christie’s former girlfriend, Holly Parkes, reminisced about their time together, revealing that he had battled symptoms from repeated concussions for nearly nine years. “He described it as an electrical circuit board, misfiring, giving him shooting pains and a constant ache that never left him,” she recalled. Parkes expressed her wish to have protected Christie from the damage sustained during his rugby career, saying, “If I could travel back in time… I’d ask him if he knew the value of his mind, his personality.”

Advocacy for Player Welfare

Christie’s commitment to player welfare became increasingly evident as he sought to address the issues surrounding concussion in rugby. Nelson lawyer Craig Morice, who befriended Christie nearly a decade ago, noted that he first met Christie during contract negotiations with New Zealand Rugby (NZR). Morice recounted pushing for an urgent appointment with a neurological specialist in Melbourne in 2017 due to Christie’s worsening symptoms. The specialist determined that Christie should not return to the sport.

“From that point on, he was determined to understand as much as he could about concussion and CTE,” Morice said. Christie played a pivotal role in meetings with NZR and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, advocating for an independent review into the management of concussion injuries among professional players.

In April 2019, a comprehensive 100-page review was released, containing five recommendations regarding concussion and head knocks in rugby. Despite Christie’s wishes for the review to be made public, it has not yet been disclosed. “Shane was adamant… it had to be about those that played alongside him and those that would follow in the future,” Morice said.

Following the passing of his friend and teammate, Billy Guyton, in 2023, Christie co-founded the Billy Guyton Foundation, aiming to raise awareness and prevent brain injuries in rugby. Guyton was notably the first professional rugby player in New Zealand diagnosed with CTE in 2024.

Christie’s brain has been donated to the New Zealand Sports Human Brain Bank at the Centre for Brain Research in Auckland to contribute to ongoing research into CTE and related conditions.

Born on July 23, 1985, in Palmerston North, Christie’s journey in rugby began in his youth. He played club and provincial rugby for Nelson Rugby Football Club and Buller before making his debut for the Tasman Mako in 2010. His leadership saw the team achieve significant milestones, including its first championship title in 2013.

Christie’s tenure in Super Rugby included stints with the Crusaders and Highlanders, where he was instrumental in their historic 2015 title victory. He also represented the All Blacks Sevens and the Māori All Blacks.

Christie’s sister, Katrina, reflected on the family’s grief, expressing gratitude for the joy he brought into their lives. “Though our grief is deep, so too is our gratitude for the time we had with you,” she shared at the service. As the rugby community mourns the loss of Shane Christie, his legacy of advocacy, leadership, and camaraderie will continue to inspire both current and future generations of players.