Buckman plays his club rugby for Napier Technical and was a member of the 2008 Hawke's Bay Magpies Wider Training Group.

[citation needed] Buckman came close to being selected for the New Zealand side for the Under-20 World Cup.

He was selected for two starts, one against Southland at Rugby Park in Invercargill and the second in the semi-final against Canterbury at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

[4] He played in all but one of the Hurricanes Development Team games and was then called up to train with the full squad at the end of April.

[5] On 4 June 2011, he make his debut off the bench as replacement for winger Hosea Gear at the end of the match against the Lions at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.