Denis Buckley: From Connacht mascot to 200 appearances for province

Roscommon native Denis Buckley first ran out for a Connacht match as a mascot in 2002 alongside captain Eric Elwood - he then made his debut with Elwood as head coach

Connacht Rugby double centurion Denis Buckley. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

Roscommon native Denis Buckley first ran out for a Connacht match as a mascot in 2002 alongside captain Eric Elwood when he was 12 years old and nine years later he made his debut in the front row.

By then Elwood was head coach at the Sportsground as Buckley came on for the first of 199 appearances for his native province away to Treviso.