Big Al looking overseas - ARU says walk

[Gagger]

From RugbyHeaven

On the day incumbent Test prop Al Baxter said he was likely to play overseas next season, Hurricanes tight-head Tim Fairbrother revealed he could be bound for the Western Force.

The move would make the Kiwi a contender for Baxter's Wallabies No.3 berth. Baxter, 32, yesterday said talks with the ARU had broken down and that he had told the national and NSW Rugby unions he intended to pursue negotiations with several European clubs.

Baxter, Australia's most capped prop - he has played 64 Tests and two World Cups - told the Herald he had received three offers from European clubs before the ARU talks collapsed.

The tight-head prop said he hoped the ARU would reconsider its stance over the financial component of a two-year deal that would extend his Wallabies career to include the 2011 World Cup.

But he yesterday indicated he believed his Test days might now be numbered and could end with the domestic international season of one match against the Barbarians, Tests against Italy and France and then the Tri Nations tournament.

"Unfortunately, it has broken down with the ARU," Baxter said. "We've come to an impasse. I have been getting a fair few offers from overseas in the past months, so I just said to [the ARU], 'If it has come to an impasse, I am going to have to negotiate overseas.' They said, 'Yeah, go for it'. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. Definitely, I would love to stay at the Wallabies and if I stay at the Wallabies, definitely I will stay at NSW.

"But this is getting close to my last contract, if not my last. So I have to start thinking about paying off a fair chunk of the mortgage, [and ensuring that I] have some money set aside for kids' schooling and things like that.

"I have to look after my family as No.1. If I was a young single bloke, it wouldn't matter so much, but having three children - I have a third on the way - by going overseas I can pretty much set myself up for life."

Fairbrother confirmed the Western Force had approached him with an offer that would open doors to a possible Wallabies position.

The 27-year-old, who is off contract this year and has 58 Super caps, sees Australia as his best option.

"Aussie is definitely a big option," he said. "Australia appeals more at this stage than Europe.

"I don't want to pack my boots up and head overseas and disappear from view just for the money side of things. I want to have a real crack at things."

If Fairbrother did join the Force, under ARU rules he would be eligible for the Wallabies as soon as he moved to Australia and started his new contract because he has not played a Test for the All Blacks and because his maternal grandparents are Australian. He could even be considered for the end of season spring tour.

Baxter said his heart was in Australia and that the stumbling block with the ARU "was pretty much financial".

"I started the negotiations," he said. "They came with an offer. I came with a counter-offer. They said, 'No, we are not going to get near a counter-offer', and wouldn't move pretty much from where they are at.

"I said, 'What's happening? Is there going to be any movement?' They said, 'No, we just don't want to move anywhere'. I said, 'That's really disappointing and I'll look overseas'."

Baxter, who represents himself in domestic negotiations but has an agent for all overseas matters, said he was also disappointed by how long it took to start negotiations with the ARU, especially as they ended the way they did.

"NSW were great - they were really helpful," Baxter said of the NSWRU and its involvement in the deal.

"Unfortunately, it was pretty slow with the ARU - not getting back to me and [my] having to do a fair bit of chasing up with them to try and get offers from them. I was hoping to have it all locked away a fair few weeks ago."

I guess he's getting on a bit and as pointed out elsewhere we're now swimming in A grade props, especially tight head

Not a great account of how ARU are handling themselves

 

[fatprop]

Absolute madness, he just comes good in the most important position on the field and they won't pay the guy what he is worth.

 

[formeropenside]

No madder than letting Latho go, and only a bit madder than letting Blake go.

 

[Spook]

No madder than letting Latho go

FOS, Latho was gone IMO - that last injury was bad. He hasn't been great in the GP

Oz should keep Al. He is in career best form.

 

[Novocastrian]

No madder than letting making Latho an offer that he threw his toys out of the cot about (despite it no doubt being much larger than anything Baxter could dream of being offered simply because he's a only a mere prop) and chased the cash up north go, and only a bit madder than letting Blake go and be a 20kg overweight David Fitter like slob up north.

Fixed

 

[Moses]

I recall J'On saying a few years ago that they'd pay forwards on performance like they do backs.. can't find the quote now and certainly haven't seen any evidence of it actually happening.

Shame, Al will be a big loss.

 

[RugbyReg]

see ya Al.

Nice guy by all accounts.

Not totally sad to see him go. Not madness by any means. Would prefer to stick to developing the likes of Palmer, Weekes, Kepu etc etc in readiness for RWC11 and Lions13. Would've been nice if he could give back to the sport and perhaps play in Perth for a while, but he's off to sell out and make some dosh. His call.

The Fairbrother signing won't involve money from the ARU I'd be pretty damn sure, so its not really relevant.

 

[Gagger]

 

[Red Beard]

Baxter has improved out of sight in the last few seasons IMO and along with the emergence of Robinson and Moore, the Wallabies finally have the stable platform theyve been craving. Why on earth would the ARU want to see the back of him now? They must have rocks in their head. In Europe there is a very good reason why tighthead props are paid top whack.

 

[formeropenside]

To be fair Gagger, the number of games in which Baxter has got over Sheridan = 1, while Baxter has been on the end of a lot more hidings than that. I agree that he is at last starting to come good, but he's off chasing the money which is fine.

 

[Red Beard]

To be fair Gagger, the number of games in which Baxter has got over Sheridan = 1, while Baxter has been on the end of a lot more hidings than that. I agree that he is at last starting to come good, but he's off chasing the money which is fine.

Decent test class tighthead props are as rare as hens teeth though. The ARU must know that.

 

[Scarfman]

I'd be happy for Baxter to be paid around the 3rd to 5th most money in the squad.

If the ARU are offering a typical forwards (who don't bring in the crowds) deal, they are shooting themselves in the foot. People like to watch the Wallabies win, I would assume.

 

[fatprop]

I can just see Baxter going and someone not ready to start as a test tight head getting smashed regularly and the whole cycle starting again.

 

[TOCC]

im a former front rower and i cant say i have much sympath for baxter, he has had ample opportunities to prove himself, and has failed at almost ever hurdle along the way. So he has a few good matches at the end of last year, and all of a sudden he is held in high regard.

 

[Ash]

I'm always hesitant with these things, as I don't know if the ARU's initial offer was not good enough, and I don't know if Baxter is asking for more money than he's worth.

I think that, at 32, Baxter has a good chance of still being there for the 2011 World Cup, but also wouldn't hold it against him to leave for the big Euro paycheck.

As has been mentioned above, Baxter has matured into a very good tight head for us when previously, we had none. Problem is, it took a long long time and during that time Baxter had his head shoved up his ass in multiple World Cups and multiple humiliating tours. Bit sad to lose him just as he's become world class, but I'm just happy having a world class tighthead for the time being.

 

[TOCC]

thats it Ash, we dont know what he has actually been offered, comments like this are all part of the game in negotiating a larger contract.

Although, i suspect this one is probably more true then fabricated.

I remember when JON came back he said he was shocked at the amount of players who were receiving ARU top-ups, many players who were unlikely to play for the wallabies again. Whilst i dont think that Baxter fits into the later category, it does make me wonder how many props are currently on ARU top-ups already.

Robinson
Alexander
Holmes
Dunning
Baxter
Kepu
Henderson
Shepherdson

thats quite a lot of players when you compare it to other positions on the field

 

[fatprop]

thats it Ash, we dont know what he has actually been offered, comments like this are all part of the game in negotiating a larger contract.

Although, i suspect this one is probably more true then fabricated.

I remember when JON came back he said he was shocked at the amount of players who were receiving ARU top-ups, many players who were unlikely to play for the wallabies again. Whilst i dont think that Baxter fits into the later category, it does make me wonder how many props are currently on ARU top-ups already.

Robinson
Alexander
Holmes
Dunning
Baxter
Kepu
Henderson
Shepherdson

thats quite a lot of players when you compare it to other positions on the field

And only one on that list is near a real THP, two more are LHP conversions and the other is Sheperdson

 

[Lindommer]

Old rugby heads know props, especially THPs, don't come into their own until their late 20s and carry on at the top level well into their 30s. Baxter has finally reached this level and isn't getting his clacker handed to him on a plate by opposing props; it's been noted earlier he's only got one over Sheridan but, crucially, it was the last one. The trend's all good and his future as an international THP looks rosy, the ARU must have rocks in their heads to even consider letting him go. Have they forgotten the old rugby maxim "the most important player in a rugby team is the THP. The second most important is the reserve THP"?

Remember back in 2003 when Baxter was promoted to the Wallabies starting lineup before he was ready due to Darwin's unfortunate injury? Do we want to be in that situation again with Palmer and Weeks too young and others not good enough? Do we want to rely on the injury-prone Dunning as our first choice THP? Get your game together, ARU.

 

[RugbyReg]

Old rugby heads know props, especially THPs, don't come into their own until their late 20s and carry on at the top level well into their 30s. Baxter has finally reached this level

Meaning he's about 4-5 years behind schedule. He's obviously a smart guy off the field, but a slow learner on.

Move on the future is upon us.

Baxter can see us out this year. Shepherdson is till about. Weekes and Palmer and Edwards are next on the cards.

Back in 2002/03 we lost Darwin, Panaho, Noriega and Dyson before we had to revert to Baxter (and Dunning). Its when we lose 4 front line THPs that's when we can worry about another "Twickenham". Plus we have coaches who actually care about scrummaging at the moment. Unlike Eddie.

 

[naza]

I'd be happy for Baxter to be paid around the 3rd to 5th most money in the squad.

If the ARU are offering a typical forwards (who don't bring in the crowds) deal, they are shooting themselves in the foot. People like to watch the Wallabies win, I would assume.

John O'Neill is a tool. Will he do the same to Benn Robinson ?

I'm sure if Baxter was a mediocre rugby league winger, he'd be throwing gazillions at him.