Dog given rugby club membership after recovering lost balls

We've all heard of ball boys and girls at sporting events. But, with a wagging tail and a furry coat, this is one with a difference. Meet Bess - the rugby-loving dog who is proving to be a hit at Havant Rugby Club. The eight-year-old Brindle Boxer has been given life membership at the club for finding more than 180 rugby balls and saving the club thousands of pounds. Bess, who lives close to the club, regularly retrieves balls that get lost in the hedge surrounding the pitch off Hooks Lane.

Owners Bryan and Sue Perolls said they were stunned when Bess retrieved a ball for the first time, thinking she was sniffing for a cat. Mr Perolls, 55, of Hazelholt Drive, said: 'We wondered what on earth she was doing. We thought she had found a cat as she does love a chase. We went to the hedge and there was a rugby ball inside. She started jumping up and down. She likes to knock the rugby ball around.'



The Perolls take the rugby balls home and wash them before returning them to the club. 'She gets upset if we take them back to the club without letting her play with the ball first!' laughed Mr Perolls, an engineer. With rugby balls costing around £20 each it means Bess has saved the club some £3,000 in replacements over the past three years. The Perolls, who are both rugby fans, have also been given life membership at the club. Mr Perolls said: 'When there's a barbecue Bess will get a hotdog or a burger. She will get her own water bowl. If there's not a barbecue on, they get her some chicken from the kitchen.'

Harry Wilkinson, president of Havant RFC, said: 'We're delighted to welcome Bess as a life member. Our pitch is surrounded by 30ft hedges and balls are always disappearing into them so it's great to have such a great ball dog. She has saved us hundred of pounds and along with Bryan and Sue will always be welcome at the club. We can't thank them enough.'