'The dog ate my passport'; Blues player misses French trip

A Labrador puppy has sidelined Jason Tovey for Cardiff Blues’ Heineken Cup game against Toulon today.

Blues back Tovey was unable to join the squad’s flight to France because his pet dog Buster chewed up his passport.

A Cardiff Blues spokesman told the BBC News Wales website that Tovey was “in the doghouse”.

As well as being forced to watch the Pool Six encounter on television, Tovey will need to stump up £100 for a new passport.

“It’s a bit like the old schoolboy excuse that the dog ate my homework,” Tovey told BBC Wales.

“Buster is always chewing things, but usually it’s my sock and shoes. A soon as I saw the passport, I thought I would never get through airport security with it.

“I was dreading telling my team coach. I didn’t think anyone would believe.”