David Buko

David Buko (1972–2002) was a Papua New Guinean professional rugby league footballer who represented Papua New Guinea in the 1995 and 2000 World Cups.

Buko began his career in the early 1990s and represented Northern Zone before first making the national side in 1993 after helping the Goroka Lahinis win the SP Cup grand final. He played for the national side in both the 1995 and 2000 World Cups.^[2]

In 1999, Buko joined the Western Suburbs Magpies, playing in eight games at both wing and fullback. Buko played in the club's final ever game as a first grade side which was a 60-16 loss against Auckland at Campbelltown Stadium. The club merged with Balmain in 2000 to form the Wests Tigers and Buko was not retained, instead playing in Wagga.^{[citation needed]}

Buko returned to Papua New Guinea and again played for the Goroka Lahinis and the national side. In the 2001 series against France his form was so impressive that the Limoux Grizzlies offered him a contract.^[2]

Buko played a total of 12 matches for Papua New Guinea between 1993 and 2001.^{[citation needed]}

Buko died in January 2002, he had contracted typhoid in 2001 and had chronic fever at the time of his death.^{[citation needed]}