October 24, 2025 • 13 mins
As Canterbury prepares to face Otago in the NPC final, one moment stands out above the rest: it will be the final appearance in red and black for captain Tom Christie.
Brian Ashby, the self-proclaimed chairman of the Tom Christie Fan Club, joined Lesley Murdoch to share his reflections on Christie’s leadership, character, and impact on Canterbury rugby.
“Tom’s been the heartbeat of this team,” Ashby said. “His work ethic, humility, and passion for the jersey have made him a true Canterbury icon.”
Ashby also shared his thoughts on the upcoming final and reminisced about the stadium that has hosted so many unforgettable moments. With the venue’s use coming to an end, the match carries added emotional weight for players and fans alike.
“There’s something special about this place,” Ashby added. “It’s where legends were made—and Tom’s name belongs among them.”
Stay tuned for coverage of the NPC final and tributes to one of Canterbury’s finest.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you're just joining us now, we are saluting the
(00:03):
man who's captain the Red and Blacks throughout twenty twenty five,
and I'm talking about Tom Christy. We heard just after
eight from Rob Penny on his thoughts on the skills
of the man that commands the number seven Jersey, and
I thought it would be very appropriate to get on
the self proclaimed president of the Tom Christie Appreciation Society
or the Tom Christi Fanclub, whichever way you look at it.
(00:25):
And quite ironically, we have had a text in this
morning and the text reads, would love to hear from
Brian Ashby in the combox tonight. I know his answer
would be, can't say that because it's got some dots
after it, But that man deserves a decent send off
from his challenging stadium. Brian Ashby, gash the man that
we know and the president of the Tom Christie Appreciation Society.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Good morning, goodness, good wining to you. What an introduction?
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Well, well, you've always been such a big fan of
what Tom Christy has done on the rugby field, and I.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Think you know, he sort of first came into my consciousness.
I guess I'm captaining the new Zealand under twenties way
back when and watching those games and seeing the work rate,
and that's the ongoing theme I think of his career
work rate. You know, he was arriving sort of on
the scene at a point where another great workhorse in
(01:22):
the form of Matt Todd was sort of almost at
the departure lounge, and it was kind of reassuring knowing
that this young bloke was coming through with that that
great work ethic. And I think I think the wonderful
thing about him, setting aside non selection or injury issues,
if you look at NPC and if you look at
Super Rugby, every year he has been at the top
(01:45):
of the stats every which way. If he's if he's
been fully available, he's been at the top of the stats.
And that stats don't always tell the full story, but
it does speak volumes to the work rate. You know
what you're going to get when he goes out on
the part and he's gonna he's just going to give
his heart and soul. He's going to bleed for the
jersey and yeah, who can ask for more than that?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, game in, game out, season and season out. You
mentioned it a little bit, the fact that he has
been overlooked at the very highest level. I think people
puzzle about that.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah to me, you know, I guess you know Dwayne Monkely, Locklin,
bow Share, guys that spring to mind, you know again,
loose forwards. It surprises me a lot. I know the
way the game has evolved, and I'm not saying it's
the right thing. They do seem to sort of look
more to the big ball carrying number sevens, and I'm
(02:41):
not convinced that that's necessary. I think we're sort of
falling into almost a Northern Hemisphere style of game, maybe
a wee bit South African. To me, I grew up
watching you know, guys like Graham Murray, Kent Stewart, Lester Rutledge,
the the you know, the these guys who were just
devastating the breakdown, massive tacklers and so a different era,
(03:05):
different style of game. But even you know, Richie McCaw
wasn't He was a good ball carrier, but it was
his work, you know, his tackling and his breakdown work,
that was what he was known for. He was almost
a weird bit of an outlier because the other sort
of open siders we're going more that sort of ball
carrying way. But I'm a big fan of you know,
(03:26):
sometimes you've got to cut your cloth accordingly with what
you've got. Tom Christy to that end, is just an
enormous as set. He's going to be very very hard
to replace.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I believe, yeah, absolutely when you and as you've mentioned
in terms of the context of the games that he
plays as well and coming up with the goods, even
scoring the odd try, which which you know it doesn't
happen very often for him. But in the end, it's
all about that team being on the right side of
the scoreboard at the end of the game.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
And you know, playing as number number seven's are probably
the bravest guys on the pair that they have to
put there. You know, they're going in generally sort of
more often than not, first to that that that point
of breakdown, putting their heads into sort of ugly spaces,
and then you know, a storm of massive guerrillas arrive
(04:16):
and smashing you every which way. You're really putting your
your body and you hit everything. You know, it's a
high risk position. You've got to be brave to play there.
And you know, I, yeah, I guess he's he's the
bravest of them all. And you know, you look at
the success you know of the Crusaders and he's been
(04:38):
there for you know, a large part of it. You
know how good it would be, you know, this afternoon
if he were to I guess book on his bookend
his his his Canterbury career is in PC career with
you know, he started with a title in his first season.
If he were able to finish it today, particularly with
the you know the captain's arm band, as he's always,
(05:01):
by the way, looked like somebody who could and should
be captaining this team, even the Crusaders. He's just sort
of got that that sort of I guess that that
mana about him, not necessarily what he says, but but
what he does, you know, follow me, lads out of
the trenches together. We're all in it together. And and
(05:22):
he's that sort of bloke, So it would be it
would be a great scene off for him today if
he were to get a second tidle.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Absolutely, because he was captain of New Zealand under twenties,
wasn't he.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, way way back when, and that was
sort of when he first came into my consciousness. I
hadn't really seen him at at a club level, but
he was very quickly in the Crusaders back up squad
and it took him a couple of seasons to sort
of breakthrough. He was getting the NPC opportunities but they
weren't coming at at at super level. But you knew
that when they did, you know he was he was
(05:51):
going to feel like a glove and and and and
so it's come to pass.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yeah, well we know that up until this match, this
big final match, that Christy leads the competition with two
hundred and twenty two tackles and you add that to
a super rugby about the same. I think this year,
I don't think even Zach Gallagher can pip him pull
that in. But anyway, what you've said is true, and
it's quite right that we salute him and what he
(06:18):
has contributed in the Jersey for all the right reasons
because we know that, you know, professional sport can change
the way people look at the game or you know,
look after themselves, and that's the way the nature of it,
because it's your job. But he, to me, hasn't changed
his approach from day one and it's just gratifying. I
need to ask you, though, Brian Ashby, how do you
(06:40):
see this final panning out? I mean that as we know,
anybody but Canterby to win it from around the country,
But how do you actually see the game going?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, it's fascinating because I've enjoyed otago they've played. I
guess the younger guys are playing with a real freedom
you know about them, and they're back. I think in
particular has been very, very good. I've enjoyed you know,
the commin people talking about Dylan Pledge or a lot
Cameron Miller. Cavin Miller probably deserves a wee bit more
(07:08):
credit in terms of the way he steered them around
the park at number ten. I think he's very good.
Lucas Casey on the open side, is what an exciting
player he is with bull hand, real real flear about
the way he goes about his business. But I think Canterbury,
I think, provided they just get that platform and control
things nicely up front, I think that's that's the key thing.
(07:31):
Just just control the game upfront. And and you know,
losing Bell, who I think is absolutely on top of
his game, and and and Dowry is not ideal. But
you know, you've got the replacements aren't the shevy, So
I think that's the key thing. I'm enjoying what I'm
seeing with the Canterbury team, some of the lesson names
that don't necessarily get the headlines. Nuney is playing the
(07:54):
best rugby of his career this campaign. Somebody I didn't
give enough credit to in recent years, even when the
Crusaders were having a bad season last year, I thought
Shafe hack has really stepped up and I think the
last two seasons he's been been absolutely outstanding. So you know,
those guys, you know they're not going to be All Blacks,
(08:14):
but but Shafe v. Hacke is pretty close in the
All Blacks fifteen. But they are the sort of the
other backbone. I think guys like that if they're going good,
the other sort of guys that underpin an NPC campaign.
So I think canterburyn can get the job done today.
I do think they will. I think losing the Rentfully
shield to Otago, we know that Otago can be cannary
(08:35):
because they've done it, but losing that shield it sort
of it was a good reset for the Canterbury team
and they were as sides often are after losing the shield.
They were all weave it off for a week or two,
but they've come back really well, I think, and particularly
last week I thought they made a real statement in
that semi final went Overhawk's pace. So I think Cannabry
will do it. But you know, there's no fear in
(08:59):
this hotel team and they'll have their moments in the
game for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
And I can't let you go without talking about that
commentary box at Apollo Stadium and the nose nose drippingly
cold area where you've done so many of your games
since twenty twelve when it was opened, which we were
all really grateful for because at least we had something.
(09:26):
But what do you make of it, because this will
be the last time that Canterbury play there.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
I miss it, you know as a stadium. But you know,
look big up to the achievement of Jerry Browne drove
that and it's not fashionable to being jury Brownie. People
don't necessarily like him, but but he did at the time,
and yeah, I think we have to be grateful for
that because it was it was questionable as to where
(09:51):
or if, you know, any rugby was going to be
played in cris it's for a long long time. So
I think that was great, But Heavens above those who
put the handbrake on the reader development for so long
and have cost us hundreds of millions more than was necessary.
You know, there are some people that I won't forgive.
You know, I won't name names, but you know that
that held it back. It's just exciting. We've got the
(10:13):
new stadium coming. I there were games that we did
there so cold, and when you're having to talk for
sort of eighty plus minutes through a game and you
had no voice, you would literally it was like the
would take a couple of days after it was sort
of physically it was actually quite demanding because we were
(10:33):
working out in the open and that side were the
coaches boxes, which is where the commentary positions that they
were cold Eastley. Even if it was a nice day,
it was freezing cold. What's going on, man? It is
not right. So yeah, it was tough going.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
I think the enduring memory for me to put demise
what the conditions were like for the radio commentary because
we didn't have a we went sheltered, we didn't have
a roof or or walls. Was you know, hard man
Crusaders alumni Corey Flunn bringing the electric blanket when he
was co commentation. That will be mine during memory that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Was that was so funny you brought there and we
didn't we give them death in the commentary that night.
And the funny thing was that his former teammates in
Glasgow listening on bire Heart radio, the tech started coming
in from some of the ear You're gone, so from
you since you go and meet when you go there,
they're all all winding about. So yeah, that was fun
of My favorite memory of it stadium, and there aren't
(11:36):
many because obviously there was a lot of success there
and under you know, both the NPC and Super Rugula level.
But my my my favorite memory had to be twenty
sixteen Mitch Hants and the forty five dropped goal.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Only forty five.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
There was eighty five. It was eighty five. And then
then let my other favorite, I mean, now there's two
of them. You've got me going here, the magnificent Sam
Whitlock try from the restart on about twelve meters into
his own half and he Kirkpatrick did. He ran up
that right side and he was sidestepping everyone. He ran
through the whole team and scored and it's probably probably
(12:17):
probably my all time favorite try that one. So yeah,
some great memories from from the venue, that's for sure.
Even if it wasn't the Flash of Mecano set.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Well, look, we could spend hours talking about it, but
we're really grateful for your Anglo on Apollo Projects Stadium. Also,
of course the man that we are honoring, Tom Christy,
and the fact that it will be his last game,
well who knows. He's only twenty seven, so we don't
know where he's going to be in two years, but anyway,
we need to salute him. He has been magnificent, so
(12:50):
too have you, Brian Ashby, and we're grateful for you
coming to the phones.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Lovely to chat and best luck to the Cannery team
and congratulations to newcar Util and England for their magnificent
signing of Tom Christie.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Great words, Brian Ashby, Thank you very much for.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
More from News Talks ed B Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
If you're just joining us now, we are saluting the
(00:03):
man who's captain the Red and Blacks throughout twenty twenty five,
and I'm talking about Tom Christy. We heard just after
eight from Rob Penny on his thoughts on the skills
of the man that commands the number seven Jersey, and
I thought it would be very appropriate to get on
the self proclaimed president of the Tom Christie Appreciation Society
or the Tom Christi Fanclub, whichever way you look at it.
(00:25):
And quite ironically, we have had a text in this
morning and the text reads, would love to hear from
Brian Ashby in the combox tonight. I know his answer
would be, can't say that because it's got some dots
after it, But that man deserves a decent send off
from his challenging stadium. Brian Ashby, gash the man that
we know and the president of the Tom Christie Appreciation Society.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Good morning, goodness, good wining to you. What an introduction?
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Well, well, you've always been such a big fan of
what Tom Christy has done on the rugby field, and I.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Think you know, he sort of first came into my consciousness.
I guess I'm captaining the new Zealand under twenties way
back when and watching those games and seeing the work rate,
and that's the ongoing theme I think of his career
work rate. You know, he was arriving sort of on
the scene at a point where another great workhorse in
(01:22):
the form of Matt Todd was sort of almost at
the departure lounge, and it was kind of reassuring knowing
that this young bloke was coming through with that that
great work ethic. And I think I think the wonderful
thing about him, setting aside non selection or injury issues,
if you look at NPC and if you look at
Super Rugby, every year he has been at the top
(01:45):
of the stats every which way. If he's if he's
been fully available, he's been at the top of the stats.
And that stats don't always tell the full story, but
it does speak volumes to the work rate. You know
what you're going to get when he goes out on
the part and he's gonna he's just going to give
his heart and soul. He's going to bleed for the
jersey and yeah, who can ask for more than that?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, game in, game out, season and season out. You
mentioned it a little bit, the fact that he has
been overlooked at the very highest level. I think people
puzzle about that.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah to me, you know, I guess you know Dwayne Monkely, Locklin,
bow Share, guys that spring to mind, you know again,
loose forwards. It surprises me a lot. I know the
way the game has evolved, and I'm not saying it's
the right thing. They do seem to sort of look
more to the big ball carrying number sevens, and I'm
(02:41):
not convinced that that's necessary. I think we're sort of
falling into almost a Northern Hemisphere style of game, maybe
a wee bit South African. To me, I grew up
watching you know, guys like Graham Murray, Kent Stewart, Lester Rutledge,
the the you know, the these guys who were just
devastating the breakdown, massive tacklers and so a different era,
(03:05):
different style of game. But even you know, Richie McCaw
wasn't He was a good ball carrier, but it was
his work, you know, his tackling and his breakdown work,
that was what he was known for. He was almost
a weird bit of an outlier because the other sort
of open siders we're going more that sort of ball
carrying way. But I'm a big fan of you know,
(03:26):
sometimes you've got to cut your cloth accordingly with what
you've got. Tom Christy to that end, is just an
enormous as set. He's going to be very very hard
to replace.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I believe, yeah, absolutely when you and as you've mentioned
in terms of the context of the games that he
plays as well and coming up with the goods, even
scoring the odd try, which which you know it doesn't
happen very often for him. But in the end, it's
all about that team being on the right side of
the scoreboard at the end of the game.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
And you know, playing as number number seven's are probably
the bravest guys on the pair that they have to
put there. You know, they're going in generally sort of
more often than not, first to that that that point
of breakdown, putting their heads into sort of ugly spaces,
and then you know, a storm of massive guerrillas arrive
(04:16):
and smashing you every which way. You're really putting your
your body and you hit everything. You know, it's a
high risk position. You've got to be brave to play there.
And you know, I, yeah, I guess he's he's the
bravest of them all. And you know, you look at
the success you know of the Crusaders and he's been
(04:38):
there for you know, a large part of it. You
know how good it would be, you know, this afternoon
if he were to I guess book on his bookend
his his his Canterbury career is in PC career with
you know, he started with a title in his first season.
If he were able to finish it today, particularly with
the you know the captain's arm band, as he's always,
(05:01):
by the way, looked like somebody who could and should
be captaining this team, even the Crusaders. He's just sort
of got that that sort of I guess that that
mana about him, not necessarily what he says, but but
what he does, you know, follow me, lads out of
the trenches together. We're all in it together. And and
(05:22):
he's that sort of bloke, So it would be it
would be a great scene off for him today if
he were to get a second tidle.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Absolutely, because he was captain of New Zealand under twenties,
wasn't he.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, way way back when, and that was
sort of when he first came into my consciousness. I
hadn't really seen him at at a club level, but
he was very quickly in the Crusaders back up squad
and it took him a couple of seasons to sort
of breakthrough. He was getting the NPC opportunities but they
weren't coming at at at super level. But you knew
that when they did, you know he was he was
(05:51):
going to feel like a glove and and and and
so it's come to pass.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yeah, well we know that up until this match, this
big final match, that Christy leads the competition with two
hundred and twenty two tackles and you add that to
a super rugby about the same. I think this year,
I don't think even Zach Gallagher can pip him pull
that in. But anyway, what you've said is true, and
it's quite right that we salute him and what he
(06:18):
has contributed in the Jersey for all the right reasons
because we know that, you know, professional sport can change
the way people look at the game or you know,
look after themselves, and that's the way the nature of it,
because it's your job. But he, to me, hasn't changed
his approach from day one and it's just gratifying. I
need to ask you, though, Brian Ashby, how do you
(06:40):
see this final panning out? I mean that as we know,
anybody but Canterby to win it from around the country,
But how do you actually see the game going?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, it's fascinating because I've enjoyed otago they've played. I
guess the younger guys are playing with a real freedom
you know about them, and they're back. I think in
particular has been very, very good. I've enjoyed you know,
the commin people talking about Dylan Pledge or a lot
Cameron Miller. Cavin Miller probably deserves a wee bit more
(07:08):
credit in terms of the way he steered them around
the park at number ten. I think he's very good.
Lucas Casey on the open side, is what an exciting
player he is with bull hand, real real flear about
the way he goes about his business. But I think Canterbury,
I think, provided they just get that platform and control
things nicely up front, I think that's that's the key thing.
(07:31):
Just just control the game upfront. And and you know,
losing Bell, who I think is absolutely on top of
his game, and and and Dowry is not ideal. But
you know, you've got the replacements aren't the shevy, So
I think that's the key thing. I'm enjoying what I'm
seeing with the Canterbury team, some of the lesson names
that don't necessarily get the headlines. Nuney is playing the
(07:54):
best rugby of his career this campaign. Somebody I didn't
give enough credit to in recent years, even when the
Crusaders were having a bad season last year, I thought
Shafe hack has really stepped up and I think the
last two seasons he's been been absolutely outstanding. So you know,
those guys, you know they're not going to be All Blacks,
(08:14):
but but Shafe v. Hacke is pretty close in the
All Blacks fifteen. But they are the sort of the
other backbone. I think guys like that if they're going good,
the other sort of guys that underpin an NPC campaign.
So I think canterburyn can get the job done today.
I do think they will. I think losing the Rentfully
shield to Otago, we know that Otago can be cannary
(08:35):
because they've done it, but losing that shield it sort
of it was a good reset for the Canterbury team
and they were as sides often are after losing the shield.
They were all weave it off for a week or two,
but they've come back really well, I think, and particularly
last week I thought they made a real statement in
that semi final went Overhawk's pace. So I think Cannabry
will do it. But you know, there's no fear in
(08:59):
this hotel team and they'll have their moments in the
game for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
And I can't let you go without talking about that
commentary box at Apollo Stadium and the nose nose drippingly
cold area where you've done so many of your games
since twenty twelve when it was opened, which we were
all really grateful for because at least we had something.
(09:26):
But what do you make of it, because this will
be the last time that Canterbury play there.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
I miss it, you know as a stadium. But you know,
look big up to the achievement of Jerry Browne drove
that and it's not fashionable to being jury Brownie. People
don't necessarily like him, but but he did at the time,
and yeah, I think we have to be grateful for
that because it was it was questionable as to where
(09:51):
or if, you know, any rugby was going to be
played in cris it's for a long long time. So
I think that was great, But Heavens above those who
put the handbrake on the reader development for so long
and have cost us hundreds of millions more than was necessary.
You know, there are some people that I won't forgive.
You know, I won't name names, but you know that
that held it back. It's just exciting. We've got the
(10:13):
new stadium coming. I there were games that we did
there so cold, and when you're having to talk for
sort of eighty plus minutes through a game and you
had no voice, you would literally it was like the
would take a couple of days after it was sort
of physically it was actually quite demanding because we were
(10:33):
working out in the open and that side were the
coaches boxes, which is where the commentary positions that they
were cold Eastley. Even if it was a nice day,
it was freezing cold. What's going on, man? It is
not right. So yeah, it was tough going.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
I think the enduring memory for me to put demise
what the conditions were like for the radio commentary because
we didn't have a we went sheltered, we didn't have
a roof or or walls. Was you know, hard man
Crusaders alumni Corey Flunn bringing the electric blanket when he
was co commentation. That will be mine during memory that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Was that was so funny you brought there and we
didn't we give them death in the commentary that night.
And the funny thing was that his former teammates in
Glasgow listening on bire Heart radio, the tech started coming
in from some of the ear You're gone, so from
you since you go and meet when you go there,
they're all all winding about. So yeah, that was fun
of My favorite memory of it stadium, and there aren't
(11:36):
many because obviously there was a lot of success there
and under you know, both the NPC and Super Rugula level.
But my my my favorite memory had to be twenty
sixteen Mitch Hants and the forty five dropped goal.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Only forty five.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
There was eighty five. It was eighty five. And then
then let my other favorite, I mean, now there's two
of them. You've got me going here, the magnificent Sam
Whitlock try from the restart on about twelve meters into
his own half and he Kirkpatrick did. He ran up
that right side and he was sidestepping everyone. He ran
through the whole team and scored and it's probably probably
(12:17):
probably my all time favorite try that one. So yeah,
some great memories from from the venue, that's for sure.
Even if it wasn't the Flash of Mecano set.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Well, look, we could spend hours talking about it, but
we're really grateful for your Anglo on Apollo Projects Stadium. Also,
of course the man that we are honoring, Tom Christy,
and the fact that it will be his last game,
well who knows. He's only twenty seven, so we don't
know where he's going to be in two years, but anyway,
we need to salute him. He has been magnificent, so
(12:50):
too have you, Brian Ashby, and we're grateful for you
coming to the phones.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Lovely to chat and best luck to the Cannery team
and congratulations to newcar Util and England for their magnificent
signing of Tom Christie.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Great words, Brian Ashby, Thank you very much for.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
More from News Talks ed B Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.