In contrast to Folau's controversy, social media has helped solve Jordi Murphy's pre-match emergency

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.