Date of birth | 16 November 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 118 kg (18.6 st; 260 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Belfast Royal Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Matthew Dalton (born 16 November 1998) is an Irish rugby union player. He formerly played for Newcastle Falcons (2021-23) and Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster. He plays primarily as a lock, but can also play as a flanker, and represented Malone in the All-Ireland League.
Early life
Dalton attended Belfast Royal Academy and, before committing to rugby, he excelled at association football and athletics, particularly the pentathlon.[1] He helped the school to the semi-finals of the 2016 Ulster Schools' Cup, where they lost to Royal Belfast Academical Institution,[2] as well as earning representation for Ulster at under-17, under-18 and under-18 level and Ireland at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level.[3]
Club career
Dalton made his senior competitive debut for Ulster in their 23–22 win against Italian side Benetton in round 9 of the 2017–18 Pro14 on 24 November 2017.[4][5]
Dalton signed for the Utah Warriors ahead of the 2021 Major League Rugby season.[6]
On 22 June 2021, Dalton returns to the UK to join English side Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby on a two-year deal from the 2021-22 season.[7]
International career
Dalton was selected for the Ireland under-20's squad for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[8] and made his debut for the side in their opening round 34–24 defeat against France on 2 February 2018,[9] before going on to start against Scotland[10] and England.[11] Dalton was also selected in the under-20s squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,[12] starting against Georgia[13] and Scotland.[14]
References
- ↑ "'He came to the captain's run with a pair of boots for me. I wear them now!'". The42. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Who are the Ulster Academy stars set for senior debuts against Benetton Treviso?". Belfast Telegraph. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Abbey Insurance Academy Profile: Matthew Dalton". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Academy trio set for senior debut". Ulster Rugby. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Ulster 23 Benetton Rugby 22". Ulster Rugby. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Six new recruits confirmed by Utah for 2021 season". 21 November 2020.
- ↑ "Matthew Dalton: Newcastle Falcons sign former Ulster forward". BBC Sport. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ↑ "Ireland name 32-man squad for U20 Six Nations". The42. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Ntamack at the double for France Under-20s against Ireland". Six Nations Rugby. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "O'Sullivan double fires Ireland Under-20s to victory". Six Nations Rugby. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "England Under-20s beat Ireland but miss out on title". Six Nations Rugby. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Doris Joins Fellow Captains To Launch World Rugby U-20 Championship". Irish Rugby. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Ireland U-20s' Losing Run Continues As They Go Down To Impressive Georgia". Irish Rugby. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ↑ "Defensive Lapses Cost Ireland U-20s As Scotland Enjoy Six-Try Success". Irish Rugby. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.