Introducing – Tony Buckley

A County Cork native, in 1999 he was a member of the Newbridge College side beaten 13-12 by Cistercian College Roscrea in the semi-final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup. Just over five years later, and by then an All Ireland League medal holder with Shannon, he made his Munster debut in the then Celtic League and this summer won his first international cap in Santa Fe against Argentina

Back on that cold March day in Dublin 4, his teammate was current Munster colleague, John O’Sullivan, who captained the Newbridge College side,  and in his Irish Independent match report the following day, former international Tony Ward, remarked that “It came as no surprise when, following another Tony Buckley charge, their classiest player cut clean through the Roscrea midfield before being hauled down just short of the line.

Current Ireland international Gavin Duffy was the number 13 for Roscrea that day and Tony Buckley played second-row.

Favourite food:  Christmas dinner; Eating out Chinese.   
Book you are currently reading or have just finished:    Peter Kay’s Autobiography.
Favourite TV programme:      Heroes.  
Favourite film:    Anchorman, Old school, Super Troopers.
Most enjoyable holiday location:  New Zealand.
Favourite sport other than rugby:  Hurling.
The sport you least like: The 50k walk looks a bit boring.
Person you would most like to meet:  Shane McGowan .
Sportsperson you admire most:  Jason Leonard. 
Hobbies:  Swimming;  Fishing;  Walking the dog. 
Where and when did you first play rugby:  Kanturk RFC, Co Cork 1994/1995,  U 16.
Biggest influence on career:    Family.
Best career advice you were given:  Education first, rugby second. Wish I’d listened !
What you like Most/Least about being a rugby player:  Get to spend time at home watch the kids grow up; Being in pain constantly is a bit of an inconvenience. 
Other sports that you played: Hurling; Soccer; Gaelic football, Basketball. 
Best rugby memory:  First Irish cap in Argentina.
Rugby player you admire most:   The Squirrel, such a brave man.
Rugby team you admire most:  Kazakhstan (seriously).
Sporting event you would most like to attend:   Rugby World Cup Final.
If you weren’t a Pro rugby player what would you be:   A Plumber.
Plans for life after rugby and what provision have you made:       Something along plumbing lines, we’ll see. Doing a college course at the moment.
Advice you would give to aspiring pro rugby player:  Get your education out of the way first. Always believe in your ability and never give up. 

Three people you would invite to dinner and why: Shane Mc Gowan – for a bit of craic and a sing song; Peter Kay – to make me laugh
Jade Goody – for an intellectually stimulating conversation.