SHE'S only a few centimetres bigger than the ball itself but one Southampton pup is more talented than most.

Bonnie the Jack Russell has become well known in the city's rugger circles as one rugby-loving little hound.

Bought by Tottonians player Luke Wilson as a present for his girlfriend Alex, Bonnie, 5, wows the crowds when she helps Luke out with his work.

The little pup shows fantastic control of the ball and clearly has a love for the game.

And she's a natural - having taken to the sport from the age of just a few months.

Now she's been caught on camera showing off her skills and Luke says she's completely self taught.

But they clearly make a great team as Luke, a PE teacher at Cantell school and a coach for Millbrook's under 18 Colts, has just left Millbrook where he played for the last ten years to play second row for Tottonians.

He said: "I don't know where she's got her talent from. From a pup I just used to throw a ball around for her. I take her with me when I go to set up for coaching. She'll run around while I'm setting up. I'll throw a few balls around and she'll go and get them. She picks the ball up with her nose and she can sometimes header the ball. She'll stand up on the ball and she's got great control. Her skills are much better than mine! But she's always either there with me or watching from the sidelines."

Bought from a friend whose dog had a litter, Luke had no idea his little pet would become such a talented baller.

But now he wouldn't do without his little pup, his and Alex's first dog. The Winchester Road couple chose her together.