Matthew Dalton

Last updated

Matthew Dalton
Date of birth (1998-11-16) 16 November 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Northern Ireland
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight118 kg (18.6 st; 260 lb)
School Belfast Royal Academy
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
20??– Malone ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2017–2019 Ulster 10 (0)
2021 Utah Warriors 0 (0)
2021–2023 Newcastle Falcons 12 (5)
2023-25 Soyaux Angoulême 22 (5)
2025- Ulster 0 (0)
Correct as of 16 January 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018 Ireland U20 5 (5)
Correct as of 12 June 2018

Matthew Dalton (born 16 November 1998) is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Ulster. A graduate of the Ulster academy, he formerly played for Utah Warriors (2021), Newcastle Falcons (2021-23) and Soyaux Angoulême (2023-25). He plays primarily as a lock, but can also play as a flanker, and represented Malone in the All-Ireland League.

Contents

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 returned to the UK to join English side Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby on a two-year deal from the 2021-22 season. [7] In 2023 he signed for Soyaux Angoulême in the French Pro D2. [8] He returned to Ulster in January 2025 following a successful trial. [9]

International career

Dalton was selected for the Ireland under-20's squad for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, [10] and made his debut for the side in their opening round 34–24 defeat against France on 2 February 2018, [11] before going on to start against Scotland [12] and England. [13] Dalton was also selected in the under-20s squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, [14] starting against Georgia [15] and Scotland. [16]

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The 2019–20 season was Ulster's 26th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's second season as head coach. Lock Iain Henderson was named captain in place of retired hooker Rory Best. They competed in the Pro14 and the European Rugby Champions Cup. Both competitions were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, he later stages being played in August, September and October 2020. In the Pro14, Ulster finished second in Conference A, making the playoffs and qualifying for next season's Champions Cup. They beat Edinburgh in the semi-final, but lost to Leinster in the final. They finished second in Pool 3 in the Champions Cup, qualifying for the quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Toulouse.

The 2018–19 season was Ulster's 25th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's first season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the Pro14, making the semi-finals, and the European Rugby Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals.

References

  1. ↑ "'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.
  2. ↑ "Who are the Ulster Academy stars set for senior debuts against Benetton Treviso?". Belfast Telegraph . 23 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "Abbey Insurance Academy Profile: Matthew Dalton". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ↑ "Academy trio set for senior debut". Ulster Rugby. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  5. ↑ "Ulster 23 Benetton Rugby 22". Ulster Rugby. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Six new recruits confirmed by Utah for 2021 season". 21 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Matthew Dalton: Newcastle Falcons sign former Ulster forward". BBC Sport. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Rugby : Matthew Dalton signe au SA XV" (in French). Charente Libre.fr. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Four more players lock in futures with Ulster Rugby", Ulster Rugby, 16 January 2025
  10. ↑ "Ireland name 32-man squad for U20 Six Nations". The42 . 22 January 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "Ntamack at the double for France Under-20s against Ireland". Six Nations Rugby. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "O'Sullivan double fires Ireland Under-20s to victory". Six Nations Rugby. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "England Under-20s beat Ireland but miss out on title". Six Nations Rugby. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  14. ↑ "Doris Joins Fellow Captains To Launch World Rugby U-20 Championship". Irish Rugby. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  15. ↑ "Ireland U-20s' Losing Run Continues As They Go Down To Impressive Georgia". Irish Rugby. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "Defensive Lapses Cost Ireland U-20s As Scotland Enjoy Six-Try Success". Irish Rugby. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.


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