News from All Over the Web
|
Home >
News >
NewsLinks

Search results for 'Rugby' - Page: 15
| Stuff.co.nz - 28 Aug (Stuff.co.nz) A welcome tweak to the Lucky Loser playoff concept will kick in from 2026. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Stuff.co.nz |  |
|  | | NewstalkZB - 28 Aug (NewstalkZB) Former Maori All Black Shane Christie died suddenly in Nelson this morning, sparking calls from grieving friends for greater attention on the damage a rugby playing career can cause.
Friends of Christie told the Herald it was believed his death was self-inflicted and came after a period during which concern over his wellbeing had increased.
Christie was an advocate for greater focus on the damage repeated head injuries can have – particularly the links with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death. The symptoms include aggression, depression, memory loss and paranoia.
Christie had told the Herald he wanted his brain to be studied after his death to see if he had CTE.
In New Zealand, Christie’s close friend and teammate Billy Guyton was found to have CTE in a brain study carried out after his death in a suspected suicide.
In the United States, it has been linked to multiple suicides among professional football players.
The posthumous diagnosis of Guyton made him the first professional New Zealand-based rugby player confirmed to have the disease.
Guyton retired aged 28 due to ongoing concussion symptoms and died in 2023 at age 33.
Christie’s lawyer, Craig Morice of Nelson, told the Herald the former player was not only a client but a friend.
“I’m absolutely devastated that something like this has happened,” Morice said.
“The time for discussions about preventing this happening again is not now but that is a discussion that needs to take place and should take place.
“We shouldn’t run from this discussion. I’m so incredibly sad for Shane’s family and friends and team mates he has left behind.”
Christie captained Tasman to an NPC title and co-captained the Highlanders to their maiden Super Rugby title in 2015. He also represented the Maori All Blacks but had his career cut short in 2018 because of ongoing and severe concussion symptoms.
In December, Christie told the Herald of wanting to donate his brain to medical science so it could be studied for the damage his playing career caused – and changes he would make to rugby to make it safer for the next generation.
The police said officers were sent to “a sudden death in Nelson this morning” after receiving an alert just after 8.20am.
“The death will be referred to the coroner and we have no further information or comment we can provide.”
Former NZ Herald journalist Dylan Cleaver, whose ground-breaking journalism reported extensive links between rugby and head injuries leading to CTE, said it was “more evidence that we need to take this subject seriously”.
“It is more evidence we need to acknowledge the link between head knocks and not just neuro-degenerative disease but mental health outcomes.
“This is tragic news. It is heart-breaking. It is just so important we keep having conversations about head injuries in rugby.”
Former NZSAS operator Gregg Johnson met Christie through their shared experience of repeated head knocks in their professional careers - and their efforts to have their former employers shoulder the burden of care and treatment of those who succeeded them.
On this week last year, the pair were together at the Centre for Brain Research in Auckland attending a seminar on CTE.
Johnson told the Herald he was saddened to hear of Christie’s death.
“Our stories were identical. If we told our story without saying what we were, people wouldn’t know which was which.”
More to come ...
SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION
Where to get help:• Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)• Youth services: (06) 3555 906• Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234• What`s Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737• Aoake te Ra (Bereaved by Suicide Se... Read...Newslink ©2025 to NewstalkZB |  |
|  | | Stuff.co.nz - 28 Aug (Stuff.co.nz) Former Welsh player Alix Popham has lashed out at World Rugby. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Stuff.co.nz |  |
|  | | RadioNZ - 27 Aug (RadioNZ) Former Highlanders flanker believed he was suffering from the same neurodegenerative brain condition diagnosed in friend Billy Guyton, who died by suspected suicide. Read...Newslink ©2025 to RadioNZ |  |
|  | | Stuff.co.nz - 27 Aug (Stuff.co.nz) Rugby World Cup bosses said there was an “electric atmosphere” despite the blowouts in week one, but the one-sided contests might not have peaked yet. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Stuff.co.nz |  |
|  | | Sydney Morning Herald - 27 Aug (Sydney Morning Herald)Brandon Paenga-Amosa and his sister Katalina both played for Australia at the weekend and did something that may never happen again. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Sydney Morning Herald |  |
|  | | RadioNZ - 27 Aug (RadioNZ) The Fijian Drua will host Moana Pasifika in the opening round of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific in Lautoka in February next year. Read...Newslink ©2025 to RadioNZ |  |
|  | | RadioNZ - 27 Aug (RadioNZ) Shane Christie told media last year he wanted to donate his brain for research into concussions. Tasman Rugby`s chief says he`s shocked and gutted. Read...Newslink ©2025 to RadioNZ |  |
|  | | Stuff.co.nz - 27 Aug (Stuff.co.nz) Fiji prop Bulou Vasuturaga and Samoa centre Melina Salale might not play again in the tournament in England. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Stuff.co.nz |  |
|  | | Stuff.co.nz - 27 Aug (Stuff.co.nz) Caleb Clarke will line for Auckland this weekend to play his first game of rugby since the Blues’ Super Rugby Pacific campaign ended in mid-June. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Stuff.co.nz |  |
|  |  |
|
 |
 | Top Stories |

RUGBY
The Wallabies have axed first five Ben Donaldson for the two Bledisloe Cup tests in favour of their England-bound Crusaders Super Rugby champion More...
|

BUSINESS
Even the Finance Minster's been caught by surprise, by today's sharp drop in GDP More...
|

|

 | Today's News |

 | News Search |
|
 |
 |
|
 |