Leroy Carter, a rookie recently named to the All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship’s opening matches in Argentina, faced an unexpected hurdle: “The dog ate my passport.”
The Chiefs’ utility back, based in Hamilton, was one of four uncapped players chosen by Scott Robertson for the Championship squad. He was surprised and thrilled by Robertson’s phone call informing him of his selection.
Carter was scrambling to prepare for the squad’s assembly and departure when he found his passport had been the victim of a canine incident.
“I got my passport out to take a photo to send to the (team) manager, and I just left it on my bedside table,” Carter explained.
”My partner went to the gym and left my dog home alone. It seems the dog went down the hallway, jumped on the bed, and chewed up the passport, along with my teeth aligners.”
“It was a bit of a chaotic situation. I was trying to get an emergency one, but I think it’s all (sorted) now. I had a feeling something like this would happen to me, so there’s no point getting stressed about it.”
The All Blacks squad departs on Friday for Cordoba to play Argentina on August 17, followed by a match in Buenos Aires a week later. These games mark the first two rounds of the Rugby Championship, which also features Australia and South Africa.
