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Baxter going for gold in Commonwealth Games

27/ 6/2002

SALFORD Reds young winger Neil Baxter has made history by signing a deal to play rugby union for England in the Commonwealth Games.

As exclusively revealed in last week's Advertiser Sport, Baxter has been selected by England Sevens coach and ex-RL great Joe Lydon for the squad of 20 to train in Ireland next month. Salford Reds agreed to loan the 19-year-old to the RU for one month to allow Baxter to fuel his childhood dream of representing his country on the big stage.

Reds director of football Steve Simms told Advertiser Sport: "It is a bit hard standing in the way of a young man who wants to represent his country. It is a real honour for Neil to represent England."

And Simms added that although Baxter's First Team chances have been limited due to a knee injury this season, he is very much in coach Karl Harrison's plans.

He said: "Neil is a very good young player and unfortunately he's been injured most of this season. But he played well for the academy last week and he's very much in our plans."

Salford begin the most important month in their season with a trip to on-form Widnes Vikings on Sunday, and Simms said everyone at the club knows the next few weeks could be critical if the Reds are to avoid the drop into the NFP.

He told us: "This month is vital with Widnes, Wakefield, Warrington and Halifax coming up and everyone here knows it. Widnes are going really well but if you draw a line through the two teams there isn't much to choose between them. When we met them last time I thought we were a little unlucky so if we can improve on that you never know in this game."

Scrum-half Bobbie Goulding is a fitness worry ahead of the Vikings tie with both a shoulder and a groin injury which leaves him doubtful to start on Sunday. Simms added that former Brisbane Broncos star Mike Hancock would probably not play again this season after badly dislocating his shoulder against Castleford - an injury which looks to have signalled the end of his illustrious playing career.