Chris Nahi Explained

Chris Nahi
Fullname:Christopher Hamuera Nahi
Birth Date:11 September 1973
Height:182cm (72inches)
Year1start:1996
Year1end:98
Appearances1:46
Tries1:6
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:24
Teama:Rest of the World
Yearastart:1997
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:New Zealand Māori
Yearbstart:1998
Yearbend:02
Appearancesb:3
Triesb:1
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:4
Source:[1]

Christopher Nahi (born 11 September 1973) is a former professional rugby league footballer. He has played representative rugby league for both the New Zealand Māori team and the Rest of the World side.

Playing career

Nahi played for the Federal United club in the Northern Territory Rugby League competition.[2] In 1994 Nahi toured Queensland and New South Wales with the Northern Territory Representative side.[3]

Between 1996 and 1998 he played for the Gold Coast Chargers team, playing in 46 first grade matches. In 1997 he was cited for biting Darren Senter in a match against Balmain. Nahi alleged he was racially abused by Senter.[4] It was during this time that he was selected in the Rest of the World team to play Australia during the Super League war.

In 2001 he played for the Eastern Suburbs Tigers in the Queensland Cup.[5] In 2002 and 2003 he played for the Burleigh Bears.[6] [7]

In 2008 Nahi played for the Currumbin Eagles in the Bycroft Cup competition on the Gold Coast.[8] After playing in the grand final he tested positive for D-Amphetamine and D-Methamphetamine. As a result, he was banned by the Queensland Rugby League until 1 October 2010.[9]

Representative career

After touring Papua New Guinea with the team in 1998, Nahi was selected to be part of the Aotearoa Māori side that played in the 2000 World Cup.[10] He also played for New Zealand Māori in 2002 against Tonga.[11]

Controversy

Nahi was involved in a police raid which uncovered over 1000 ecstasy tablets in 2005, during the raid Nahi fled and remained on the run for eight days before handing himself into police. He was charged with "deprivation of liberty, the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, obstructing police, firearm and drug related offences".[12] [13] Nahi was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail for possessing a commercial quantity of ecstasy tablets in 2006 and convicted of the "deprivation of liberty" charge.[14]

Redemption

During 2016, his final stint in jail Nahi turned to God. The day after leaving prison, he checked into an intensive rehabilitation program in Tweed Head, New South Wales. [15]

Nahi was deported from Australia in 2017, following which he focused on using his experiences to help others break the chains of addiction.

Nahi opened Victory House Recovery Program on 23 November 2018.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chris Nahi - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project. Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. http://www.napnt.org/blogs/ntdrugnews/2005_11_01_ntdrugnewsblogarchive.html Police search widens for former league player
  3. http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=7-2008-0-0-0&sID=17304&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=1396012&sectionID=17304 Northern Territory Representative Sides 1993–1997
  4. Steve Mascord Racial abuse claim with ARL Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 1997
  5. http://www.queensland.rleague.com/results/2001/stats-eas.php 2001 Queensland Cup Statistics – East Coast Tigers
  6. http://www.burleighbears.com/index.php?page_id=123 Burleigh Bears QLD Cup Player Roster
  7. https://archive.today/20120907200833/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=17949 Round 22 Qld Cup teams & predictions
  8. Graham Callaghan Tweed Seagulls knock on Wood goldcoast.com.au, 17 May 2008
  9. http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/clubs-seek-next-sonny-bill-gaz-20091123-iwz5.html Nahi banned
  10. New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.118
  11. Web site: Rugby League: Maori thrash Tonga. 6 October 2002. The New Zealand Herald. 24 September 2011.
  12. Web site: Kiwi flees Gold Coast drug raid. 25 November 2005. Television New Zealand. 24 September 2011.
  13. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-115813131.html Former rugby league international faces string of charges
  14. Web site: League player jailed for ecstasy stash. 11 July 2006. Television New Zealand. 24 September 2011.
  15. Web site: Footy Fugitive. 2018. interactives New Zealand. 21 August 2024.
  16. Web site: Victory House. 2018. New Zealand. 21 August 2024.