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The Rugby Championship

New All Blacks selectee scrambles after dog eats passport

By Ned Lester

4 days ago

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 03: Leroy Carter of the Chiefs looks on prior to the round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Chiefs at Sky Stadium, on May 03, 2025, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

All Blacks management have been scrambling ahead of their flight to Argentina to begin The Rugby Championship, with one of their potential new caps left with a mauled passport, courtesy of his pet dog.

Former All Blacks Sevens workhorse, now Chiefs speedster Leroy Carter, was packing for his first All Blacks tour this week when he and his partner left their dog home alone, later returning to some pup-infused carnage.

In what one can only assume was a moment of cosmic karma for a high school homework excuse, Carter returned home to find his passport torn apart by his pet, which RugbyPass understands to be a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

“I got my passport out to take a photo to send to the manager, and I just left it on my bedside table,” Carter explained during an interview with ThreeNews.

“My partner went to the gym and left my dog home alone, and it’s gone down the hallway, jumped on the bed and just chewed up the passport and my teeth aligners.

“I thought it would happen to me, something like that, so no point getting stressed about it, just trying to sort it out.”

An emergency passport would allow the 26-year-old to travel as planned to Corboda, where the first Test between the All Blacks and Pumas is set to be held.

Carter’s inclusion in Scott Robertson’s squad comes as an injury reserve, indicating his 2025 form has placed him as the next man up when injury strikes, as has unfortunately been the case with Caleb Clarke.

Clarke, who is nursing a high ankle complaint, has an expected recovery timeline of five weeks at the time of writing, meaning Carter is likely to spend at least a full month in camp with the New Zealand team.

Getting into the matchday 23 will be another challenge altogether, though, with Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece and Emoni Narawa all named in the squad and the likes of Ruben Love and Will Jordan also capable of covering the wing.

Regardless, Carter is now in camp and in the conversation, an enormous achievement for the Olympian.

“It was obviously a pretty special moment. I was actually out having breakfast with my partner and some of the Steamers boys, and I got an unknown number call,” he said, reflecting on finding out about his selection.

“I guess I thought if there was a day to answer those, it was probably today, and he just said congratulations, and I honestly can’t really remember what else he said after that. I was pretty emotional and pretty stoked to get a phone call like that.

“All the boys were pretty pumped, but I was still in a bit of a shock.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

Draws

Wins

Average Points scored

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

40%

The All Blacks coach shared what he made of the man affectionately known as ‘Boomfa’ in his rookie Super Rugby Pacific season.

“Throughout the season, you just saw how many line-breaks he makes, how good he is at the breakdown, and covering tackles and efforts off the ball,” Robertson said at the Rugby Championship squad announcement..

“He’s tough. He would probably be one of the fastest in New Zealand; you know, on record times.

“So he has got a lot of positives for him. He would be welcomed into the All Blacks and keep working on that craft and bring a lot of energy.”