New York native Connor Buckley played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2024. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2021-2023) and Old Glory DC (2024).

An Iona College alum, Buckley graduated in December 2020 and already had a MLR contract in place with his hometown Rugby United New York, who he signed with in June of 2020 ahead of the 2021 MLR season. Buckley earned his MLR debut in 2021, his first start in 2022 (finished with 8) and scored his first MLR try in 2023 (finished with 3), all with the Ironworkers. In total he earned 31 MLR caps (19 starts) for NY, scoring 3 tries and winning the 2022 MLR shield following a 30-15 victory over the Seattle Seawolves.

Buckley was expected to return for the Rugby New York Ironworkers for the 2024 season, but in early December 2023 the team and MLR announced that New York would not take part in the 2024 season. This news came about a week after the Toronto Arrows had announced that they weren’t taking part in the 2024 season either. MLR held a Dispersal Draft for NY & Toronto players which Connor Buckley opted into. Buckley was selected 8th by Old Glory DC in this Dispersal Draft, and his signing was announced by the Flags on 19th December, 2023. As he opted in to the Dispersal Draft, Buckley’s 2024 salary did not count against Old Glory DC‘s cap hit for the season. Buckley scored a career high 6 tries in 15 games (8 starts) in 2024, playing as part of a scrum-half tandem with Ethan McVeigh. He scored 2 tries in Rd 16 that earned him a MLR Team of the Week selection to help the Flags qualify for the post-season in the 2nd season in a row. Buckley started Old Glory’s Eastern Conference Semifinal against their rivals the New England Free Jacks, where he scored 3 tries to become the first player in MLR history to score a hattrick in the post-season, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the eventual Champions, as the Flags fell 29-33.

achievements:

• First player in MLR history to score a MLR Playoff hat trick: 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinal
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 16
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 16
• MLR Champion: 2022 (Rugby New York)