Christie was open about the struggles he faced after retiring in 2017, suffering from persistent headaches, memory loss, speech difficulties, depression and mood swings. These symptoms were consistent with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma.
The condition can only be diagnosed posthumously, and Christie had reportedly expressed his wish to donate his brain to New Zealand’s sports human brain bank to help advance research into CTE.
During his playing days, Christie campaigned for greater awareness of concussion and its long-term effects within rugby. His case underscores the growing concern around head injuries in contact sports, where repeated blows to the head can have lasting consequences for players’ health and wellbeing.
New Zealand Rugby paid tribute, describing Christie as deeply passionate about the sport and someone who would be ‘remembered always’.
The issue of CTE has gained international attention in recent years. In American football, hundreds of former NFL players have been found to suffer from the condition.
According to AFP, a 2023 Boston University study revealed that of 376 former NFL players’ brains examined, 345 showed signs of CTE. Christie’s death highlights how rugby, too, faces difficult questions about concussion management and player welfare.