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In contrast to Folau's controversy, social media has helped solve Jordi Murphy's pre-match emergency
By Online Editors
Jordi Murphy had a pre-match drama with a difference this Friday, the Ulster player using social media to successfully track down the whereabouts in Belfast of Charlie, his missing golden retriever dog.
The back row, who is set to start in his province’s crucial PRO14 game on Friday night away to Conference B rivals Edinburgh, posted a tweet earlier in the day pleading for help after his dog had gone missing in the east of the Irish city after being hit by a bike and scarpering.
"Charlie has gone missing this morning on the Comber Greenway just off the Sandown road," said Murphy in a tweet appealing for the public for an emergency dig-out.
"He was hit by a bike and bolted in the direction of Dundonald. He is wearing a multi-coloured collar. If you see him or find him please call +44 7490 390839 or the number on his collar. Thanks.”
Murphy’s appeal paid off and he was back on Twitter a few hours later giving thanks that his dog had been safely found, a result that will given him peace of mind of go and do his best on the pitch for play-off chasing Ulster who face an Edinburgh side trailing them by just three points on the table.
In a week where rugby players' use of social media has been subject to much derision due to the Israel Folau controversy in Australia, Murphy’s use of Twitter illustrated how these platforms can also lead to much happier outcomes.
Ahead of his 28th birthday later this month, Murphy has proved a popular signing at Ulster. He opted last summer to leave Leinster in the hope of securing more regular club action up the M1 and Dan McFarland has given him every opportunity, Murphy repaying this fate with a stellar performance in Ulster’s European quarter-final near-miss against Leinster in Dublin.
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Latest Comments
I'm honestly not so sure. I initially thought just reckless mainly because no player should be capable of doing that intentionally.
There's a strong argument that he's working both the eyes. It's his left hand he uses which is furthest from the ball he's contesting. His fingers are also clenched which I don't think is a natural way to try and rip a ball.
Go to comments"I see those teams, SA in particular, as only improving their performances in EPCR."
well, its gone the opposite direction so far!
"I don't like your model that requires them to reach Semi Final level in the Challenge trophy, given the bottleneck that will be URC with 16 teams playing for only 4 places."
my model would have given SA 3 spots in a 16 team CC this year, which is the same number as they have in the 24 team version that is actually taking place. But yes, if they keep getting worse it would get harder for them to get places. It would also get harder for you to argue that they deserve places though!
"I suggest by giving say Englands two semi finalist first seeds of the english teams, then the next best 4 on the league table as much better (it catches improving teams faster)."
interesting argument, but it doesn't always go that way. Gloucester are improving, but they improved in cup competitions before league fixtures started going their way. The same is true of Sharks, and the same was true of la Rochelle. I think maybe this is just an argument for allowing more teams to qualify via the challenge cup!
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