Alpaca punch when I get in a rugby scrum

As a rugby-mad youngster, Rory Matthews likes to train every day. Unfortunately, he lives on a farm and does not have anyone his own age to play with.



But he's not worried - because he's got Chicky the alpaca. Chicky, a fellow resident at the Children's Animal Farm near Melbourne, has proved a formidable sparring partner for eight-year-old Rory.

"I don't have any brothers and sisters to play rugby with, so Chicky helps me out," said Rory after another tough session with the brown and grey South American animal.

With slideshow.