Jason Tovey has been forced to miss Cardiff Blues's Heineken Cup trip to Toulon this weekend because his dog ate his passport.
The fly-half's labrador puppy Buster chewed up the travel document ahead of Saturday's match in France.
"It's a bit like the old schoolboy excuse that the dog ate my homework," Tovey told BBC.
"Buster is always chewing things but usually it's my sock and shoes.
"As soon as I saw the passport I thought I'd never get through airport security with it. I was dreading telling my team coach, I didn't think anyone would believe."
Winless Cardiff are currently bottom of Heineken Cup Pool 6, while unbeaten Toulon are top.
