Al Baxter

The most capped prop ever to don Wallaby gold, AL BAXTER surpassed the 51 Tests played by his former Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, when he appeared as a replacement against Ireland in the opening international of the season. Baxter went on to play in every domestic Test for the Wallabies; one of just seven players to do so, and missed just the Test against Italy on the Spring Tour. He made his Australian debut in a Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand just prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and then attended his second World Cup last year; scoring his first try in senior representative Rugby in the match against Canada.  He has also twice featured in Super rugby finals as part of the Waratahs side. The popular and articulate Baxter plies his trade as an architect when not propping up scrums. 

1995   Graduated from the Shore School in Sydney where he also rowed for the school.

1998   Made his NSW Premier Rugby debut with Norths at age 21.

2000   Made his Super 12 debut for the Waratahs against the Bulls in 2000 and went on to earn nine caps in his maiden season behind Wallaby props Cameron Blades and Rod Moore.

2003   Became a regular starter for the Waratahs in the Super 12, touring Japan with the Australia A team before making his Test debut against New Zealand in the final Tri Nations match of the season. He then replaced the injured Ben Darwin during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, starting in the opening match against Argentina as well as the Final against England.

2004   Started in all 12 Tests at tighthead prop for the Wallabies, after a full season with the Waratahs.

2005   Led the Waratahs front row to their first Super 12 Final appearance against the Crusaders in Christchurch before finishing the Test year on the Wallaby reserves bench during the Spring Tour.

2006   Celebrated his 50th Super Rugby cap for the Waratahs against the Cats in Sydney before playing in all but two of the 13 Wallaby Test matches, starting at loosehead prop on 3 occasions during the Spring Tour.

2007   Was one of few senior players to play in all 13 matches for the Waratahs, playing every match during the team’s injury-riddled Super 14. Attended his second Rugby World Cup and scored his first Test try.

2008   Advanced beyond Ewen McKenzie’s former Test record, featuring in his 60th Test when Australia completed the Tri-Nations against New Zealand in Brisbane, having eclipsed his former Waratahs coaches’ mark during the opening international of the ‘Robbie Deans Era’ against Ireland at Melbourne. Earlier, he had appeared in his second Investec Super 14 final with the Waratahs.