Christie: I may have CTE too
Former Tasman, Highlanders and Māori All Blacks flanker Shane Christie believes he is suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the same neurodegenerative brain condition that was diagnosed in the autopsy of his friend Billy Guyton.
Christie, 38, has posted a story on his social media channels documenting his own battle with concussion, but gave permission to Stuff yesterday to publish details of his struggles and his CTE fears – which can’t be diagnosed until death – in the hope of prompting a wider conversation about brain injuries and player treatment.
Christie, a fearless defender on the paddock, also said he could “confidently say he had about a dozen” concussions during his playing career, and noted that was at a time when players were allowed to play seven days after they were concussed.
Christie retired from the game in 2018 after several concussions in the final stages of his career, and since then has tried to balance severe health challenges with coaching appointments.
He was the Highlanders’ defence coach in 2021-22, and as recently as last year was involved in coaching the Tasman FPC team, stepping into a role that Guyton had fulfilled until his death by suspected suicide in May 2023.
However, Christie’s wellbeing 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 this time, I decided to help Mel Bosman in coaching her and Billy’s Mako Women’s FPC team. I had to balance my own recovery with the emotional weight of Billy’s passing and the responsibilities that came with coaching the team.
“I was determined to honour Billy’s memory and support Mel and the team in any way I could. During a critical 12-day period in early to mid-September, I experi-* enced four manic, psychotic events. These events not only exacerbated my symptoms but also became increasingly radical and difficult to comprehend.’’
These recent events, combined with Christie’s years-long struggle with anxiety, crippling fatigue and suicidal thoughts post-retirement, led him to sadly conclude: “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.”
In a statement provided to Stuff yesterday, NZ Rugby acknowledged an “association” between head impacts and CTE, but added a caveat.
“NZ Rugby is concerned about the possibility that repeated head impacts during participation in rugby may impact on brain health later in life,” it said.
“NZ Rugby acknowledges that there is an association between repeated head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change (CTE-NC), as identified in the autopsies of contact sport athletes.
“A causal link between CTE-NC and clinically diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases is not currently well established.’’
“I gradually exhausted my brain’s energy and cognitive capacity, pushing myself to a point where I became delusional and paranoid.’’
Shane Christie