Cardiff Blues player Jason Tovey has been left stranded in France after his Labrador puppy, Buster, chewed up his passport, causing him to miss the team's Heineken Cup match against Toulon.
The 23-year-old, who can play at fly-half, centre or full-back, was unable to join the squad's flight to France for Saturday's Pool Six encounter. A Cardiff Blues spokesman told the BBC News Wales website that Tovey was 'in the doghouse'.
Tovey described the incident as 'a bit like the old schoolboy excuse that the dog ate my homework'. He said: 'Buster is always chewing things, but usually it's my socks and shoes. As soon as I saw the passport, I thought I would never get through airport security with it.'
The player admitted he was dreading telling his team coach, adding: 'I didn't think anyone would believe.' In addition to missing the match, Tovey will have to pay £103 for a replacement passport.
