Leroy Carter's All Blacks call-up turns nightmare after his dog eats up passport

Dubai: Leroy Carter's excitement after receiving his first call-up to the All Blacks quickly turned into a nightmare, thanks to his dog chewing up his passport just days before the team’s departure to Argentina.

The 26-year-old recounted the chaotic moment to New Zealand media. “I had taken my passport out to snap a photo to send to the team manager and left it on my bedside table,” Carter explained. “My partner went to the gym and left our dog at home. It must’ve gone down the hallway, jumped on the bed, and just chewed through the passport — and my teeth aligners too.”

“It was a bit of a shambles yesterday. I was scrambling to get an emergency passport sorted, but I think we’ve got it all sorted now,” he added. “Honestly, I kind of expected something like this to happen to me — no point stressing, just had to sort it out.”

The All Blacks squad is scheduled to fly out on Friday for their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Cordoba next week.

Carter, who previously represented New Zealand in rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics and helped secure a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, received the All Blacks call-up following an impressive debut Super Rugby season with the Waikato Chiefs.

He was enjoying breakfast with his partner and a few Bay of Plenty teammates when the unexpected call came through.

“I got a call from a private number,” Carter recalled. “I figured if there was ever a time to answer one of those, this was it. It was Scott Robertson congratulating me on my selection.”

“I honestly can’t remember much of what he said after that. I was emotional, just stoked. The boys were buzzing for me, but I was still in a bit of shock.”