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Highlander forced to retire due to concussion problems
By Online Editors
Former Highlanders flanker Shane Christie has retired due to ongoing issues suffered from a concussion during the 2016 season.
Christie earned his first contract with the Tasman Makos, after four years of club rugby in Nelson. His form at Mitre 10 for Tasman over two seasons put him in the frame for the Crusaders, where he debuted in 2013. After just one appearance, he headed south to take an opportunity with the Highlanders where he was part of the 2015 Super Rugby champion team.
The highlight of his career he says came when he captained Tasman to Premiership promotion in the 2013 Mitre 10 Championship final.
"It was amazing at Trafalgar Park. Hawke's Bay had the kick to win at the end and our supporters group were just giving it to him [Ihaia West]. I could hear them over my shoulder and he shanked it. Those 60 fans won that game for us. That was a real highlight," he said.
The 32-year-old missed the 2017 Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup seasons due to the injury and missed out on a playing contract for 2018. He will move into a coaching role with the Makos, alongside Leon MacDonald and Andrew Goodman as the forwards coach.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity and to be there with Leon [MacDonald] who has been with the Mako for eight years and Andrew Goodman who I played with for a couple of seasons. It's awesome to move onto another phase with someone I played with and are good mates with," he said.
"We've been in three finals and have lost them all but hopefully we've learnt from that. I'm really excited about the team we have this year and what we can achieve."
He played for Tasman 76 times and earned 30 Super Rugby caps, with 29 at the Highlanders. He also played eight times for the Maori All Blacks and appeared for the New Zealand sevens team.
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Latest Comments
SCW really dislikes Eddie, doesn't he?
His words in 2019 before the RWC final that he now says should have resulted in Eddie's firing:
"Was Saturday’s sensational World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand England’s greatest ever performance? Yes, unquestionably, would be my answer."
So let's fire the coach one game later? Duh!
Go to commentsIreland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
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