HBRFU chief executive Mike Bishop, in confirming his return to the Magpies' fold, yesterday said: "Richard is on top of his game and his recent form for the Highlanders in Investec Super Rugby has seen him excelling wherever he plays.
"His versatility in any backline position from second five through to fullback makes him a hugely valuable addition to any squad he's in and he's a proud Magpie," Bishop said.
The bloke who goes by the nickname of "Barracuda" in elite rugby circles has been in the peripheral thinking of New Zealand selectors in the past few seasons so yesterday's re-signing with the Magpies signals those intentions to keep his All Blacks dreams alive.
The likes of Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Sonny Bill Williams, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane and Ngani Laumape have featured in recent selection talks over Buckman.
But the fearless tackler, who can also mow down defences, has overcome a shoulder injury that robbed him of the entire 2016 Super Rugby season after helping the Otago/Southland franchise clinch its maiden Super Rugby crown in 2015.
A coach's dream player, Buckman can play on the wing or fullback but is equally adroit in the midfield, especially second five-eighths where he has performed with aplomb for the Highlanders.
In a 2.15pm kick off against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday, he will offer a mouth-watering face off with Crotty for All Black coach Steve Hansen and Co as well as the fans.
NTOB premier men's team manager, Rod Cushing, last night was aware of Buckman's return for some time and assumed most of his clubmates did, too.
Cushing said the versatile back was a team man and would play for his club at the drop of a hat if he could.
"He obviously keeps in touch with his club and friends so we'll be rapt to see him back in the Bay because he missed last year.
"There's one thing I'll say for Bucky, he's here to watch the premier side or whoever is playing which is something not all Super Rugby players do."
Cushing said the slick form Buckman was in right now meant slipping on the All Blacks jersey was a perfectly reasonable assertion.
"He's probably the most underrated midfielder in New Zealand who can play anywhere. He's a spare parts man who can be a fullback, a winger as well as slot in anywhere in the midfield so he can just about play anywhere he is put."
Cushing said even throughout his years as a pupil at Napier Boys' High School Buckman brought a sense of mongrel that inevitably earned him the label of "hardman" of rugby.
"When he played for Tech he was a hardman and played with heart and continues to," said the team manager who had watched Buckman flourish from the time he left NBHS.
In his opinion, Palmerston North-born Buckman would be just as good as Williams in the All Blacks squad.
"I just hope the man goes to wherever he can in rugby because he deserves to, you know."
Cushing said Buckman's parents, Tracey and Allan, of Otorohanga, made it a habit to watch every game of his throughout the country.
"I would say it'll be a bit hard for them now with all the places [overseas] he plays now but I don't think they've ever missed a game he's played for Tech or Napier Boys' High first XV."
Twenty-five players have been contracted for the campaign this season under the tutelage of coach Craig Philpott (who is away as coach at the U20 World Championship in Georgia) and the newly appointed Magpies backs coach, Mark Ozich, with up to five more players to be awarded contracts before the provincial competition kicks off.
