Ruling on rugby girl's injury angers mother

Nikita Karaitiana's mother is angry and upset with the Otago Rugby Football Union's decision that there is no evidence her daughter was kicked or received head injuries in a match last month.

The former Flaxmere pupil, who now plays for the Crescent Rugby football club, from Kaitangata near Balclutha, was allegedly injured during an on-field incident when her team played a side from Alhambra-Union at Kaitangata on May 22.

She had an epileptic seizure on the sideline before being taken to hospital. She was readmitted to Dunedin Hospital last week after a series of seizures.

Nikita's mother, Selina Karaitiana, said she was angry with the decision that ruled there was no evidence of head injuries.

"How come they did not mention the bruised eye and the bump on the head? I have a report from the doctor saying she had head injuries," she said. "Where's the justice in this? I'm gutted."

She was upset the union had not told her about the decision before it was given to the media and she would look at appealing.

Information released by the union from a judicial committee hearing into the allegation of foul play revealed it believed there was no evidence that Nikita was kicked or received a head injury during the match.

The committee rejected the allegation and the Crescent club has not appealed this decision.

The union's chief executive, Russell Gray, said it was satisfied it had followed correct procedures in dismissing the complaint.

"We have every sympathy for the condition of the Crescent player but our judicial committee, like any judicial body, can rule only on the evidence before it."

It was not normal practice for the union to release details of evidence but, because of the media interest in this incident, Mr Gray said he could say that of all the people at the match, only one witness, who was about 50m away, said they saw a kick.

The committee also received medical evidence saying there were no signs of a head injury.

- NZPA