[7] The 2007–08 season provided Buckley with increased game time, starting four of the first six matches in the Celtic League, followed by making his Heineken Cup debut against the London Wasps.

It was during this match that Buckley came on for the injured John Hayes and within minutes had put Simon Shaw to ground with a hand-off on his own line.

Later that year he was added to the 2007 Rugby World Cup squad as an injury replacement for Simon Best,[10] but did not feature during the tournament following Ireland's exit at the group stages.

Buckley's competitive debut came in the 2008 Six Nations Championship, when he was introduced for last 10 minutes of Ireland's opening fixture against Italy on 2 February 2008.

Buckley said "I am lucky that I have emerged from professional rugby relatively intact and capable of enjoying my last couple of seasons with the club I started with.

[12] In 2023, Buckley launched legal action against Munster Rugby and the IRFU, claiming that repeated concussions had caused long term head injuries.