He made his rugby union international début as a flanker for Scotland against Ireland in the 1947 Five Nations Championship, and was also selected in the fixture that year against England.

He played for the British Empire XIII versus New Zealand on Wednesday 23 January 1952 at Stamford Bridge, and in the 2nd and 3rd Tests of the 1952 Ashes series.

Dave Valentine played loose forward in Huddersfield's 15-10 victory over St. Helens in the 1952–53 Challenge Cup Final during the 1952-53 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 25 April 1953, in front of a crowd of 89,588.

Valentine played loose forward, and was captain in Huddersfield's 4-11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1949–50 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1949–50 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1949, played loose forward, played loose forward, scored a try, and was captain in the 18-8 victory over Batley in the 1952–53 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1952–53 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1952, played loose forward, and was captain in the 15-8 victory over York in the 1957–58 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 19 October 1957,[7] and played loose forward, and was captain in the 10-16 defeat by Wakefield Trinity in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1960.

Arriva Yorkshire honoured 13 rugby league footballers on Thursday 20 August 2009, at a ceremony at Wheldon Road, the home of the Castleford.