The ‘radical’ and ‘urgent’ changes a concussion campaigner wants following the death of Shane Christie
Shane Christie playing for New Zealand Maori
High-profile concussion campaigner Sam Peters has called for “immediate and urgent changes” to improve the welfare of rugby players in the wake of the death of Shane Christie.
Christie, who played Super Rugby with the Highlanders and represented the New Zealand Maori, was found dead at his Nelson home on Wednesday after police were called.
The 39-year-old retired from playing in 2016 and had been vocal about the need for studies on the links between concussion and long-term brain injury.
Christie, who indicated he intended to leave his brain to researchers for study in the hope of making rugby a safer game, suspected he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disorder.
“Story like this punches me in the guts…”
It was more than a decade ago, as a rugby journalist in England, when Peters campaigned for the rugby authorities to take concussion more seriously.
He has since written an acclaimed book about his reporting experiences and has now reiterated his call for action following the midweek passing of Christie.
Posting to LinkedIn, Peters wrote: “Every time I question why or whether to carry on advocating for improved brain health in sport, a story like this punches me in the guts and provides crystal clear focus.
“Shane Christie, a former New Zealand rugby player who retired in 2016 following repeated concussions and campaigned for more support for brain-damaged former players ever since, died last night. He was 39.
“I won’t speculate how Shane died, but anyone with a passing understanding of CTE and its association with depression and other mental health conditions will probably already know.
New Zealand rugby in shock as ex-Maori All Blacks and Highlanders star dies, aged 39
“The more pressing question is how will professional rugby respond to yet another tragedy within its community?
“Accept it as collateral damage? An acceptable price to pay for entertainment and short-term commercial gain? Or make immediate and urgent changes to improve the welfare of players?
“And I am not talking flashing mouthguards. I’m talking a radical reduction in matches played, removal of contact training and relentless education of coaches, administrators (the ones who hold the power) and players about the risks of playing on with concussion.
“Or the sport–media, fans, sponsors, administrators, coaches and players – can choose to look the other way. Again. RIP Shane Christie.”
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Included among the replies to Peters’ post was a message from Chris Bentley, the retired Exeter Chiefs forward, who concluded that professional rugby can’t ever safely exist.
He said: “I’m all with you on the reduction of matches for the elite tier and echo Michael Aylwin with ‘put down the protein shake, pick up a pint’ in depowering the game – it would be more beneficial to players long term!
“Sadly, without the volume of games, rugby union won’t generate the revenue, and I can’t see many players (even armed with the knowledge my generation didn’t have) opting out of a lucrative (ish) pro career – even when signposted tragic stories of peers. Can professional rugby exist safely? I don’t think so.”