WELLINGTON — A post-mortem examination found that former New Zealand Māori representative rugby player Shane Christie had advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Coroner Ian Telford announced during a preliminary hearing into Christie's death in Wellington. Christie died by suspected suicide in August at age 39.

Pathologist Dr. Clinton Turner confirmed that Christie had high-stage CTE, a brain abnormality linked to repeated concussions. Turner works at the University of Auckland brain bank, to which Christie had donated his brain. The coroner said the diagnosis was the pathologist's opinion and that the cause of Christie's death would be determined by the coronial process.

Christie played Super Rugby for the Crusaders and the Highlanders in New Zealand. He retired from rugby in 2018 after suffering the effects of repeated concussions. Before his death, Christie believed he was suffering from CTE and campaigned for greater understanding of the condition after the death of his friend and fellow rugby professional Billy Guyton. Both Christie and Guyton had donated their brains to the Auckland brain bank.

Friends and family of Christie said he wanted his diagnosis made public to raise awareness of CTE for players suffering its symptoms.

CTE is a disease that causes progressive damage to brain tissue and has been known to cause mood swings, impulsive behavior and depression. The condition can only be diagnosed after death and has been linked to deaths in the National Football League and in other sports such as hockey and soccer.

Steve Lancaster, chief executive of New Zealand Rugby, responded to the findings. "New Zealand Rugby acknowledges the CTE pathology results for Shane Christie confirmed by The Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank," Lancaster said. "New Zealand Rugby recognizes an association between repeated head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy and takes this issue seriously."

"We share the concerns about the potential long-term effects of repeated head knocks in rugby and support the need for ongoing research into this," Lancaster said.