YOUNG GUNS
GUYPEPPER NEWCASTLE FALCONS FLANKER
GUY Pepper is the latest member of the Barnard Castle School production line who hopes to make it in the Premiership after joining Newcastle Falcons’ senior academy earlier in the year.
Openside flanker Pepper, 18, now at Durham University, hopes to follow in the footsteps of former England internationals Rob Andrew, Rory and Tony Underwood, Mathew Tait and the school’s current director of rugby Lee Dickson.
“We are a small school but have got a good name for ourselves at rugby, and it is building again,” said Pepper. “I think at one point we had the most players in the Premiership from one school.
“It’s quite a well-run school, but there is a lot more to Barney than just rugby. It’s such a diverse school with the number of opportunities that are there.”
Rugby runs deep in the Pepper household. His father, Martin, the director of sport and second master at Barnard Castle, played in the back row for Harlequins and England B, and brother Max has played in New Zealand and was involved in the GB Sevens set up all summer until damaging a shoulder.
Pepper spent his last three years at the school being coached by dad Martin, and he knew when he wasn’t happy.
Pepper added: “He didn’t coach me in the younger years, but from year 11 onwards he was my coach – alongside Lee Dickson in the final two years.
“Was he harder on me than other players? Yes and no,” says Pepper. “I think in the last year, he relied on me to lead from the front as it was a tough time because of Covid, but I certainly knew when he wasn’t happy. There were a few signals that I could read!”
Pepper, who now combines playing with reading a degree in sport and exercise science at Durham, speaks highly of former Northampton Saints and England scrum-half Dickson.
“He is class,” adds Pepper. “He was more of a mentor than anything and he had so much time for you. Everything he does is in your best interests. And you were able to speak to him differently to normal classroom teachers.”
Pepper, who has already been hailed as the next Tom Curry by Falcons and England No.8 Mark Wilson, is mentored by former England and Lions flanker Richard Hill.
The pair started working together during lockdown and they have been looking in-depth at the leading No.7s in world rugby, such as Wallaby captain Michael Hooper.
“We were going through the games of
the likes of Tom Curry and Michael Hooper to look at little things that they do in their game,” he says. “Things like their body positions. We have then been through a couple of my games, but over the last couple of years, I haven’t got a bank of games.
“We are going to go through some stuff from the Autumn Internationals, so it is mainly going through players who are at the top of their game and seeing what I can take from them.”