Born: July 12, 1887 – New Plymouth
Died: January 23, 1945 – Petone
Test record: 4 Tests (1909-10) – 1 try (3 points)
Tours: 1909 tour of Australia, 1911 tour of Australia

Taranaki rugby league pioneer Ernie Buckland represented New Zealand from 1909-11 and toured Australia twice.

The flying winger, a professional sprinter, played in Taranaki’s inaugural match in 1908 against Auckland, a 5-3 win.

Chosen in New Zealand’s squad to head across the Tasman the following season, Buckland scored four tries in 10 games – including a double in a losing effort against Metropolis, and further tries in wins over Queensland and NSW.

Buckland was a tryscorer in New Zealand’s 52-20 loss to Northern Union in the sole Test of the Englishmen’s 1910 tour. He toured Australia again in 1911, making six appearances at centre and wing.

In 1912, Buckland represented both Wellington and Wanganui against the visiting NSW team, scoring two tries in the latter encounter.

Buckland, later a New Zealand selector, was named on the wing in Taranaki’s Team of the Century in 2008.