Unfortunate news for New Zealand rugby fans, as former Highlanders flanker, Maori All Blacks, and Tasman National Provincial Championship captain Shane Christie died this morning at the age of 39.
The Tasman Rugby Union confirmed his death in a statement that was released on social media today.
The New Zealand Herald newspaper reported that his friends suspected Christie had committed suicide.
New Zealand police have stated that his death has been referred to the coroner, and they have no further information or comment to provide.
It has been reported that Christie suspected he was suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disorder that has been linked in the US to a number of suicides among players in the NFL.
The condition can only be detected post-mortem.
Before his death, Christie had indicated in an interview with New Zealand media that he wanted to leave his brain for research for study in the hope of making rugby a safer game.
Christie played eight matches for the Maori All Blacks, 29 matches for the Highlanders, and 73 for Tasman, captaining the Mako to the ITM Championship in 2013.
His career ended in 2017, having suffered from ongoing concussion problems.
Christie was also an advocate for a focus on the damage repeated head injuries can have on rugby players.
Source: RNZ
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