James Dalton Biography

James Dalton was educated at Parktown Boys' High School in Johannesburg and later moved to Jeppe High School for Boys where he completed his matric.

The former Springbok hooker, who played 43 Tests, had a chequered career with the game's judiciary and was under suspension when the South Africans beat the All Blacks in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final.

But James Dalton will probably be best known for the infamous 'Battle of Boet Erasmus' when he was sent off against Canada in a Port Elizabeth pool stage match during the 1995 tournament.

While it was a memorable tournament for South Africa and the Springboks, the match in Port Elizabeth will be remembered for the wrong reasons, despite the Springboks' 20-0 victory on the night.

The match was delayed for 45 minutes due to a power failure, which only added to the tension. There was a scuffle between Bok wing Pieter Hendriks and Canadian counterpart Winston Stanley, before Canada fullback Scott Stewart came flying in with a hit to the back of Hendriks' head. 

James Dalton joined the scuffle to help his team-mate, but appeared to spark things even more, before a mass brawl ensued. Irish referee Dave McHugh opted to send off Dalton, Canadian captain Gareth Rees and prop Rod Snow.

The Bullet, as he was known to his Bok teammates, played for the Transvaal Schools team in 1990 and was also selected for the SA Schools team in 1990. James Dalton made his debut for the Transvaal senior side in 1992 and in 2001, after his contract with the men from Johannesburg expired, he represented the Valke in Brakpan.

In Super Rugby, James Dalton played for the Cats during 1998 and 1999 and for the Bulls in 2001 and 2002.

During his career, he was good at scrapping on the floor with the odd forward, nicking ruck ball from transparently offside positions and generally inserting himself firmly inside the left nostril of anyone not wearing the green of the Rainbow Nation.

James Dalton went on to play 43 Tests for the Boks, was a member of the 1998 championship Tri-Nations (now The Rugby Championship) squad and was also a core member of the squad that won a record 18 Test matches under Nick Mallett during that time.

Unfortunately, he was also known to have been involved in South Africa’s underworld and in 2017, James Dalton was arrested and charged with assault, reckless or negligent driving, crimen injuria and resisting arrest in Cape Town.

His connections to the underworld were well and truly exposed in his book, Bullet Proof, 17 years after retiring from the game, referring to South Africa’s sinister underworld of Hells Angels, drug running, assassinations and brothels, a world James Dalton inhabited while starring as a Springbok hooker at the same time.

He has dabbled with various businesses, while also trying his hand at TV commentary and as a contributing rugby writer.