Newspaper Article – Rugby museum features HB man

Rugby museum features HB man

Hawke’s Bay former All Black Doug Dalton (1935-38), is October’s historic personality featured in a special display the NZ Rugby Museum, Palmerston North.

Dalton, born and bred in Hawke’s Bay, played his club rugby for Napier Technical College Old Boys, represented Hawke’s Bay from 1933 to 1938 and also turned out for Wellington in 1940.

He broke into international football in the 1935-36 tour of Britain where, after an early injury caused him to miss most of the first half of the tour, he played in tests against Ireland and Wales. He was described in a book about the tour as a dashing player in the loose, an unexpected comment about a prop forward.

Subsequently Dalton played both tests against the 1936 Australian side, all three internationals against the 1937 Springboks and finished his international career on the successful 1938 tour to Australia where he played in six of the nine matches.

After the Second World War, Dalton continued his association with the game as coach of Napier Tech Old Boys, and as a Hawke’s Bay and North Island selector.

He was also a foundation member and president of the Saracens Club, Napier Golf Club president, Hawke’s Bay Squash Club patron and associated with the St John Ambulance Association.

He has retired in Napier.

The display has been arranged by Mollie Faulkner, formerly programme director of Whatcom County Parks, Bellingham, Washington, US.

Photo caption – Doug Dalton…’dashing player in the loose’