{{short description|Irish rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Matthew Dalton | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|11|16}} | birth_place = Northern Ireland | height = {{height|m=1.97}} | weight = {{convert|118|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}} | ru_position = Lock, Flanker | amatyears1 = 20??– | amatteam1 = Malone | amatapps1 = | amatpoints1 = | ru_amateurupdate = | years1 = 2017–2019 | clubs1 = Ulster | apps1 = 10 | points1 = 0 | years2 = 2021 | clubs2 = Utah Warriors | apps2 = 0 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2021–2023 | clubs3 = Newcastle Falcons | apps3 = 12 | points3 = 5 | years4 = 2023–2025 | clubs4 = Soyaux Angoulême | apps4 = 22 | points4 = 5 | years5 = 2025–26 | clubs5 = Ulster | apps5 = 14 | points5 = 5 | ru_clubupdate = 28 March 2026 | repyears1 = 2018 | repteam1 = Ireland U20 | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 5 | ru_ntupdate = 12 June 2018 | spouse = | children = | relatives = | school = Belfast Royal Academy | university = }}
'''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.
==Early life== Dalton attended Belfast Royal Academy and, before committing to rugby, he excelled at association football and athletics, particularly the pentathlon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/matthew-dalton-ireland-u20s-ulster-3904438-Mar2018/|title='He came to the captain's run with a pair of boots for me. I wear them now!'|date=15 March 2018|work=The42|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> He helped the school to the semi-finals of the 2016 Ulster Schools' Cup, where they lost to Royal Belfast Academical Institution,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/who-are-the-ulster-academy-stars-set-for-senior-debuts-against-benetton-treviso-36346959.html|title=Who are the Ulster Academy stars set for senior debuts against Benetton Treviso?|date=23 November 2017|work=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2018/02/abbey-insurance-academy-profile-matthew-dalton/|title=Abbey Insurance Academy Profile: Matthew Dalton|work=Ulster Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2017/11/academy-trio-set-for-senior-debut/|title=Academy trio set for senior debut|date=24 November 2017|work=Ulster Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/report/ulster-23-benetton-rugby-22/#report|title=Ulster 23 Benetton Rugby 22|date=24 November 2017|work=Ulster Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref>
Dalton signed for the Utah Warriors ahead of the 2021 Major League Rugby season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2020/11/21/six-new-recruits-confirmed-by-utah-for-2021-season/|title=Six new recruits confirmed by Utah for 2021 season|date=21 November 2020}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57565880|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Matthew Dalton: Newcastle Falcons sign former Ulster forward|date=22 June 2021|accessdate=22 June 2021}}</ref> In 2023 he signed for Soyaux Angoulême in the French Pro D2.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.charentelibre.fr/sport/rugby-matthew-dalton-signe-au-sa-xv-15484392.php | publisher=Charente Libre.fr | title=Rugby : Matthew Dalton signe au SA XV | date=7 June 2023 | access-date=7 June 2023 | language=fr}}</ref> He returned to Ulster in January 2025 following a successful trial.<ref name=fourmore>[https://ulster.rugby/content/four-more-players-lock-in-futures-with-ulster-rugby "Four more players lock in futures with Ulster Rugby"], Ulster Rugby, 16 January 2025</ref> He left Ulster at the end of the 2025-26 season.<ref>[https://ulster.rugby/content/ulster-rugby-confirm-senior-players-to-leave-at-end-of-202526-season "Ulster Rugby confirm senior players to leave at end of 2025/26 season"], Ulster Rugby, 15 May 2026</ref>
==International career== Dalton was selected for the Ireland under-20's squad for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u20-squad-six-nations-3810677-Jan2018/|title=Ireland name 32-man squad for U20 Six Nations|date=22 January 2018|work=The42|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> and made his debut for the side in their opening round 34–24 defeat against France on 2 February 2018,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/report/ntamack-at-the-double-for-france-under-20s-against-ireland/#report|title=Ntamack at the double for France Under-20s against Ireland|date=2 February 2018|work=Six Nations Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> before going on to start against Scotland<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/report/osullivan-double-fires-ireland-under-20s-to-victory/#report|title=O'Sullivan double fires Ireland Under-20s to victory|date=9 March 2018|work=Six Nations Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> and England.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/report/england-under-20s-beat-ireland-but-miss-out-on-title/#report|title=England Under-20s beat Ireland but miss out on title|date=16 March 2018|work=Six Nations Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> Dalton was also selected in the under-20s squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2018/05/28/doris-joins-fellow-captains-to-launch-world-rugby-u-20-championship/|title=Doris Joins Fellow Captains To Launch World Rugby U-20 Championship|date=28 May 2018|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> starting against Georgia<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/report_nostats/ireland-u-20s-losing-run-continues-as-they-go-down-to-impressive-georgia/|title=Ireland U-20s' Losing Run Continues As They Go Down To Impressive Georgia|date=7 June 2018|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref> and Scotland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/report_nostats/defensive-lapses-cost-ireland-u-20s-as-scotland-enjoy-six-try-success/|title=Defensive Lapses Cost Ireland U-20s As Scotland Enjoy Six-Try Success|date=12 June 2018|work=Irish Rugby|accessdate=30 April 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2018/02/abbey-insurance-academy-profile-matthew-dalton/ Ulster Academy Profile] *[https://www.pro14rugby.org/player/?PlayGuid=MD310611 Pro14 Profile] *[https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/player/?PlayGuid=MD310611&TeamId=1875 U20 Six Nations Profile]
{{Ulster Rugby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalton, Matthew}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Irish rugby union players Category:Malone RFC players Category:Ulster Rugby players Category:Rugby union locks Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Utah Warriors players Category:Newcastle Red Bulls players Category:Irish expatriate rugby union players in the United States Category:Expatriate rugby union players from Northern Ireland
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