Player Profile from Match Day Programme. (2002/03 season)

Nick Baxter, or Bacco, is certainly one of the crowd favourites at Sharmans Cross road, but with typical modesty (ed. What Bacco?), he puts it down to the work of the forwards: They are the ones that do all the hard work up front, and whilst I enjoy the praise for scoring tries, it would not be possible without their efforts with 9 tries already on the score sheet from 8 league games this season, you can understand why the crowd enjoy seeing Nick Baxter on the charge.

It was almost a career that did not happen, however as it was only by chance that Nick was watching a friend playing Colts for Kings Norton at the age of 18 when, typically, they were one short and he was roped in.  Whilst studying Business Studies at the University of Derby, he joined Worcester who had started their move up the leagues.  And with timing of the game turning professional on Nicks side, only 6 months after leaving University he signed a contract with Worcester.

There is one theme that stands out in Nicks career and that is the coach that he has played under, with Phil Maynard offering him early guidance at Kings Norton, and subsequently at Worcester.  And so the partnership linked up again this summer at Sharmans Cross Road when Phil joined as the Director of Rugby.  And it is no great surprise that Nick is full of praise for the coaching staff and set up: Phil is the king of putting together a really tight squad, he only brings in people who will fit into the set-up and make a difference as part of the team.  Prima donnas are definitely out.  This is reflected in tough games such as Wakefield where we had to pull together to win a really tight match.

Look at some of the signings this summer Luke Smith, Rob Walton, Terry Sigley, Leigh Hinton and so on.  Everyone is contributing, and whilst the squad is a lot younger this year, the experience level relative to age is tremendous.

We also had a really good pre-season which has set us up well, and with early wins over Orrell and Plymouth we have taken 2 big scalps.  Everyone is also much fitter this year and weve got a squad that will hold together and can be built upon in the future.

Nick also sees The Bees as the place he wants to see his career out: Were a sleeping giant.  The club has got a real atmosphere about it this year, but it also retains the grass-roots feel of a rugby club.  If we manage it right and we get the basics right both on and off the pitch, we have a future at the top level.

But is not all rugby for Nick.  Now that he has a day job too, he feels much more contented: It can get too much, with rugby rugby rugby all the time, but work has given me a much more balanced life now, and I am enjoying every minute of it.  And that includes improving his gold handicap!!!