Dalton Papali’i is a New Zealand professional rugby player who plays as a flanker for the All Blacks. At club level, Dalton plays for Counties Manukau in the Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues in the Super Rugby competition.
Thanks to several injuries that hit the Blues, Dalton Papali’i’s debut came fast, and he never looked back. Coming through with a lot of potential, Dalton went on to be one of the man names in the All Blacks squad.
With his name rising so much with each game, Dalton is also a man who loves to share his personal life with fans. Details about his vacation, his wife, his children, and his general lifestyle are all topics of discussion among rugby fans.
Indeed, there is a lot to discuss about the talented flanker, and here we have it in detail.
PROFILE SUMMARY
Full name: Dalton Reece Papali’i
Date of birth: 11 October 1997
Age: 28
Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Girlfriend / Wife: Marty Puketapu
Height: 1.93 m
Weight: 113 kg
Position(s): Flanker
DALTON PAPALI’I’S AGE AND EARLY LIFE
The talented flanker, Dalton Papali’i, was born on 11 October 1997 and turned 28 in 2025. Dalton Papali’i was born in Auckland, where he grew up.
He started playing rugby league with his close friends before he moved to rugby union. He enrolled at Saint Kentigern College, where he showed his top rugby talent. Dalton went on to be the school’s first XV captain and also represented New Zealand as the Under-19 captain.
ALSO READ: Grant Williams Dedicates Sharks Win to Ethan Hooker After Father’s Death
Dalton also captained the New Zealand national schoolboy rugby union team to victory over Australia.
He was part of the famous 2017 Junior World Championship-winning New Zealand team. Dalton went on to join the Blues under-18s, becoming captain of both the under-18s and Blues A. He won the Blues Development Player of the Year twice in 2016 and 2017.
[ushering in the juniors, Dalton became a name many fans asked for, and the senior coaches invited him for senior training.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
After impressing in the juniors for Auckland and the Blues, Dalton Papali’i pushed for his debut behind the scenes. He made his debut for Auckland in 2017 as one of the young prospects. The following year, he made his professional debut for the Blues in 2018, coming on as a second-half replacement against the Chiefs.
With veteran star Blake Gibson, Dalton went on to have a perfect debut season with more than expected minutes and appeared in seven appearances.
Dalton grew fast and produced top performances for the Blues, and also took that form to Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup campaign.
In 2020, he changed provinces and joined Counties Manukau, thanks to his high school coach, Tai Lavea, who convinced him to make the switch. At Blues, his influence grew year by year, and he was awarded the team captaincy in the 2022- 2023 season.
In 2024, he led the Blues to their Super Rugby Pacific title, showing his top leadership on the pitch. With his contract ending at the end of the 2027 season, Dalton Papali’i revealed that he will leave his boyhood club.
NEW ZEALAND’S ALL BLACKS
Dalton Papali’i came through all age groups, representing New Zealand from Under-18 to Under-20. He had also been the captain of the junior teams, showing his top potential to be an All Black.
After impressing in junior rugby and at club level, Dalton Papali’i received his first national team call for the All Blacks’ northern tour to Japan and Europe.
He went on to make his All Blacks debut on 3 November 2018, starting in the All Blacks’ 69-31 victory over Japan at the Ajinomoto Stadium. Doing so, Dalton Papali’i became the first Pakuranga player to represent the All Blacks.
ALSO READ: Caleb Clarke: All Blacks, Career stats, Age, Family, Speed, Height, Lifestyle and more
Despite a poor season for the Blues, Dalton retained his place in the All Blacks’ 2019 Rugby Championship. Since then, he has remained in the team for all the major tournaments. He went on ot be part of the All Blacks 2023 Rugby World Cup squad in France.
Since then, Dalton Papali’i has been a key part of the All Blacks, serving as a leader.
DALTON PAPALI’I’S HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND PLAYING STYLE
Dalton Papali’i stands about 1.93 meters tall and weighs around 108 kilograms. His height gives him a strong lineout presence and defensive reach. His weight supports powerful tackles and dominant collisions in open play. He combines size with mobility, making him effective across the field.
Dalton accelerates quickly and covers ground with impressive speed for a loose forward. He attacks the breakdown aggressively and consistently wins the turnover battle. Papali’i reads the game well and anticipates opposition moves early. He carries the ball with strength and regularly breaks defensive lines.
Dalton supports teammates with constant movement and a high work rate. He defends tirelessly and maintains intensity throughout matches. The talented flanker adapts effectively to different roles within the forward pack. He delivers consistent performances at both domestic and international levels. eddwew
DALTON PAPALI’I’S FAMILY AND ETHNICITY
The talented All Blacks flanker Dalton Papalii is from the Pakuranga region. Dalton Papali’i’s parents have been so supportive of him his whole life, even though they do not like to go public.
Dalton once spoke about what his All Blacks call meant to his mother. He said she went emotional and broke down in tears, showing how much the call-up meant to him.
“They were in awe, mum was crying, and dad was super proud. They were just shocked, the same as me; I didn’t know what to do.” Papalii said he spoke about how his family felt after the All Blacks call.
Dalton is his sister, Sian Papalii’s twin brother, and has shown his love for Sian.
“Tough being away from you two on a day like this. So here is a little throwback to when mum used to force us to hang out with each other 😂 Happy birthday for all of us 🎂” she said, wishing her twin a happy birthday.
Indeed, his family is a strong pillar of support; they are always there for him whenever he needs them.
DALTON PAPALI’I’S WIFE AND KIDS
The talented All Blacks flanker, Dalton Papali’i, is a man in love with his partner, Marty Puketapu. The two lovebirds had been together, sharing pictures that showed how close and deeply in love they are.
Dalton and Marty welcomed their firstborn in 2025, making them a complete family.
“Our perfect little girl… Milan Ella Jane Papalii 🤍, 1/8/25. Dlton said sharing the pictures on Instagram.