Former Tasman Mako captain and Highlanders flanker Shane Christie has died in Nelson, aged 39. His death comes just two years after the loss of close friend and teammate Billy Guyton, with whom he shared a deep bond.
Christie’s career was marked by passion, leadership, and resilience, but also by the cruel effects of repeated head injuries that forced him into retirement at just 32. Severe post-concussion symptoms never left him, shaping his final years and making him a vocal advocate for greater awareness of the long-term dangers of head trauma in rugby.
Tasman Rugby chief executive Steve Mitchell says he was informed of Christie's passing this morning and he was in complete "shock".
"I'm shocked and really sad. My concerns are for his family. I'm gutted."
Raised in Canvastown, Christie’s love of rugby began early. He first played as a six-year-old and his talent was evident from the beginning.
A dynamic openside flanker, Christie captained the Mako with pride, leading them to their first trophy in 2013 when they won the ITM Championship.
His leadership qualities were recognised at higher levels too - he skippered the Highlanders to a Super Rugby title in 2015 and led the Māori All Blacks, earning respect for his relentless work rate and uncompromising style of play.
But alongside his achievements were hidden struggles. In an interview with Nelson Magazine last year, Christie recalled his first concussion as a young player at Nelson Rugby Club.
“I just got up and saw stars and felt pressure on my head and had headaches straightaway,” he said.
At the time, like so many players, he brushed it off and carried on. He would later describe dozens of similar incidents over his career - knocks to the head that, cumulatively, left lasting damage.
By 2016, Christie’s concussions had become severe. He remembered playing on “autopilot,” unable to recall passages of games. A series of head knocks while with the Highlanders over just six weeks left him unable to exercise without stabbing pains in his head. Even minor knocks - an accidental elbow in training, a chest bump in contact drills - triggered debilitating symptoms.
“You know your brain can’t tolerate the same collisions,” he admitted.
The decision to retire was heart-breaking. “I was gutted. I knew I couldn’t play… it was a loss of identity, a career, and the game I loved.”
Retirement brought new challenges. Christie suffered ongoing headaches, memory lapses, irritability, and difficulty handling stress. He often spoke of his fear of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma. After watching the film Concussion in 2015, he immediately recognised the symptoms described.
“I knew exactly what it was,” he said.
The deaths of fellow professionals - most painfully, that of Billy Guyton in 2023 - added weight to his fears. Guyton, just 33, was later diagnosed posthumously with stage 2 CTE, becoming the first New Zealand-based player confirmed to have suffered from the disease. Christie honoured his friend by helping to establish the Billy Guyton Foundation in Nelson and by speaking openly about his own struggles.
“Bill motivated me to have the courage to speak my mind about what I see,” he said.
Christie strongly believed rugby had to change to protect future generations. He argued that children should not be introduced to full-contact rugby too young, and that better record-keeping of players’ concussion histories was essential. He also called for greater long-term medical support for players, warning that professional rugby too often focused on short-term performance rather than lifelong wellbeing.
“We spend millions on stadiums and the game itself,” he said, “but not enough on the health of the players after the game.”
Despite his health battles, Christie remained deeply connected to rugby. After his playing days, he took up coaching roles, including assistant coach of the Highlanders and co-head coach of the Tasman Mako.
He also pledged to donate his brain to the New Zealand Sports Human Brain Bank, joining his mate Guyton in contributing to vital research.
“Without brain donations,” he said, “we’re not going to be able to identify how long it takes to get this disease. It’s important to help the research in New Zealand.”
Away from rugby, Christie was known for his loyalty, humour, and authenticity. Friends remember a man who never lost touch with his roots, who remained approachable and humble despite his achievements on the big stage.
In one of his final interviews, Christie reflected on his life in the game with both pride and realism.
“I have no regrets, nothing. I loved my career. I’m so stoked to have had the opportunities it gave me. I love the sport, and I hope it lasts a long time - but it’s not going to if we don’t make changes.”
Shane Christie leaves behind not just a legacy on the field, but a lasting contribution to the conversation about player welfare in rugby. His career, his struggles, and his willingness to speak out will resonate with players and families for years to come.
He is survived by his family, friends, and a community of teammates and supporters who admired his courage in life and in sport.
