By Elliott Josypenko
November 14 2005

Pertemps Bees winger Nick Baxter will attempt to continue his amazing try-scoring exploits when he makes his sixth appearance for the Barbarians Pertemps Bees winger Nick Baxter will attempt to continue his amazing try-scoring exploits when he makes his sixth appearance for the Barbarians against the Combined Services at Newbury on Tuesday November 15 (7.30pm).
Baxter, the record try scorer in Premiership and National League history, has become a popular selection for the Barbarians lhaving already run in eight tries in his first five appearances for the famous invitation club.
He marked his Barbarians debut with a try against Coventry in March 2000 but could not save them from a rare and embarrassing defeat and he had to wait another four years before he was invited to play again.
"The Coventry game was about the first time the Barbarians had been beaten in three years and the committee were not happy," Baxter said.
"I thought that would be my only game for them but, thankfully, I got another invitation to play against the East Midlands in the Mobbs Memorial Match last year and scored a hat-trick.
"I haven't looked back since and I've been fortunate enough to be invited to play for them regularly since then including an 'international' against Portugal in Lisbon in the summer of 2004.
"That was probably the biggest game of my career because most of the side were internationals. Bobby Skinstad was captain and there were the likes of Leon Lloyd, Trevor Leota, Junior Paramore and Mattie Stewart in the side.
"When you are growing up there are three teams you want to play for - England, the British Lions and the Barbarians. For most National League players the first two are out of reach but being picked for the Barbarians remains a huge thrill and a great honour.
"It's a club with a proud history, most of the greats of the game have pulled on a black and white shirt at some stage in their career. It doesn't matter how often you have played for them before, it's still a very proud moment to be asked to play."
Baxter was due to line up alongside his Pertemps Bees team-mate Tom Beim in the annual Remembrance Day match but the former England winger has been forced to withdraw because of a groin injury.
Skinstad, the former South Africa captain who is now playing for Richmond in London One, will again lead the Barbarians in a side that will also include Wales internationals Ben Evans and Gareth Williams and Portuguese pair Luis Pissarra and Goncalo Malheiro, who played against Baxter and the Barbarians in Lisbon last year.