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Former Tasman Mako captain Shane Christie passes away
Sport Nation • August 27th, 2025 12:36 pm
Shane Christie playing for Tasman Mako | Photo: Chris Symes/Photosport
Former Tasman Mako captain and Highlanders flanker Shane Christie has passed away age 39.
He played eight matches for the Māori All Blacks, 29 matches for the Highlanders, including a 2015 Super Rugby final win, as well as 73 appearances for Tasman.
Christie's career ended in 2017 at just 32 after experiencing concussion symptoms from enduring too many head injuries. In an interview with the Nelson App last year, Christie revealed that he suffered three or four concussions in six weeks in 2016, stating he felt like he sometimes played the game on autopilot.
After retirement, Christie experienced ongoing effects from these head injuries and became a vocal advocate for greater awareness of the dangers of head trauma in Rugby.
Photo: William Booth/Photosport
The death of former Tasman teammate Billy Guyton in 2023 greatly impacted Christie, with Guyton diagnosed with stage 2 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) posthumously.
Christie also recognised his symptoms being in line with CTE.
Christie wants to continue his contribution to vital research, donating his brain to the New Zealand Sports Human Brain Bank, something Guyton has done as well.
“Without brain donations 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,” Christie told the Nelson App last year.
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