Popham calls out World Rugby following tragic news of Christie's death

FORMER Wales international Alix Popham has hit out World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby over the death of ex-Maori All Blacks player Shane Christie, claiming the governing bodies must "stop the denial".

- JOHN JONES Sports writer [e-mail]

Christie, who also played for the Crusaders, Highlanders and All Blacks Sevens before retiring from the game in 2018 aged 32, was found dead at his home in Nelson, New Zealand on Wednesday morning just a day before his 40th birthday - after police were called to the address.

Reports in New Zealand say that the former flanker's death is being treated as a suspected suicide, with police confirming that it would now be referred to the coroner.

After his retirement from the game, Christie said he believed he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative brain condition, having experienced symptoms including headaches, speech and memory issues, depression and mood swings.

The disease, which is caused by repeated head injuries, can only be diagnosed after death.

Christie's close friend Billy Guyton, another former New Zealand Maori player who died in 2023 in another suspected suicide, was diagnosed with CTE following a postmortem examination of his brain.