Matthew Dalton
Matthew Dalton is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Ulster. A graduate of the Ulster academy, he formerly played for Utah Warriors, Newcastle Falcons and Soyaux Angoulême. 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. He helped the school to the semi-finals of the 2016 Ulster Schools' Cup, where they lost to Royal Belfast Academical Institution, 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.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.Dalton signed for the Utah Warriors ahead of the 2021 Major League Rugby season.
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. In 2023 he signed for Soyaux Angoulême in the French Pro D2. He returned to Ulster in January 2025 following a successful trial.