Guy Pepper

Guy Pepper
Date of birth (2003-04-21) 21 April 2003[1]
Place of birthHarrogate, England[2]
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb)[3]
SchoolBarnard Castle School
UniversityDurham University
Notable relative(s)Max Pepper
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–2024 Newcastle Falcons 26 (25)
2024– Bath 18 (25)
Correct as of 25 May 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021 England U18
2023 England U20
2024– England A 1 (0)
2025– England 1 (0)
Correct as of 6 July 2025

Guy Pepper (born 21 April 2003) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby club Bath.[4]

Early life and education

From Eggleston, in Teesdale, Pepper attended Barnard Castle School. He had to give up playing rugby for a time as a youngster due to developing arthritis.[5]

Pepper gained a degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Durham University, partly completed remotely whilst playing professional rugby for Bath.[6][7]

Club career

Pepper trained with the academy at Newcastle Falcons during the COVID-19 pandemic when matches were limited.[8] In May 2021 Pepper signed his first professional contract with the Newcastle Falcons.[9] He continued to train with Newcastle whilst completing a degree at Durham University.[10]

Pepper scored three tries in his first seven appearances for Newcastle prior to signing a new two-year contract with the club in April 2023.[11] In May 2024, he was nominated for Premiership Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Season.[12]

In April 2024, Pepper agreed to join Bath Rugby from the 2024-25 season, on a three-year contract.[13] He made a try-scoring league debut for Bath on 29 September 2024, in their opening Premiership Rugby fixture of the season, an away win at Leicester Tigers.[14] In June 2025, he scored an individual try from the Leicester 22-metre line that was eventually chalked off before winning Man of the Match in a 23–21 victory over Leicester Tigers in the 2024–25 Premiership Rugby final.[15]

International career

Pepper has represented England at U18 level.[16] In January 2023 he was named in the England U20 squad for the first time.[17] In February 2024 he started for the England A team in a victory over Portugal.[18]

On 10 March 2024, Pepper was called up to train with the senior England squad by coach Steve Borthwick for the conclusion of their 2024 Six Nations campaign.[19]

In May 2025 Pepper was called up to a training camp for the senior England squad.[20] In June 2025, he played for an England XV side in a non-cap friendly against a France XV, which they lost 24-26 at Twickenham Stadium.[21][22] He won his first cap for England from the bench in a 12-35 victory over Argentina during the 2025 Summer Test Series.[23]

Personal life

Guy's father, Martin Pepper, played as a back row forward for Harlequins and represented England B. He is the Director of Sport and Second Master at Barnard Castle School where he coached in Guy's later years as a pupil at the school. Guy’s brother Max Pepper plays for Newcastle, but is moving to Bristol Bears in 2026. Max has played sevens for Great Britain.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Guy Pepper". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Guy Pepper". Newcastle Falcons. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Guy Pepper". All.Rugby. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Guy Pepper". Bath Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. ^ Savage, Angus (16 September 2020). "Video: Future Focus – Guy Pepper, Barnard Castle School". Next Gen XV. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  6. ^ https://www.bathrugby.com/content/guy-pepper-joins-bath-rugby-on-three-year-deal
  7. ^ https://bathrugby.com/teams/men/player/guy-pepper
  8. ^ "Falcons swoop for teenage star Guy". Teesdale Mercury. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  9. ^ Wilson, Scott (5 May 2021). "Guy Pepper signs contract with Newcastle Falcons". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  10. ^ Nickson, Frank (25 April 2023). "Guy Pepper signs new two-year contract with Newcastle Falcons". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Guy Pepper: Newcastle Falcons flanker signs new two-year deal". BBC Sport. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Lawes, Smith, Russell & Slade on awards shortlist". BBC Sport. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Bath sign Newcastle back-row Pepper until 2027". BBC Sport. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Winger suffers 'nasty' injury as Bath count cost of win". Rugby Pass. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Bath hold off Leicester to win Premiership final and complete treble – reaction". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  16. ^ "ROMAN REVEAL NEWCASTLE FALCONS PLAYER SPONSORSHIP". Newton News. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  17. ^ "England U20 men squad announced for 2023". England Rugby. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  18. ^ "England A vs Portugal: Charlie Ewels to captain England A's first match since 2016". BBC Sport. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Six Nations: Guy Pepper called up to replace injured Chandler Cunningham-South as squad named for France finale". Sky Sports. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Fit-again Feyi-Waboso named in England training camp". BBC Sport. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  21. ^ "England XV team to play France XV team at Allianz Stadium". premiershiprugby.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  22. ^ "England XV 24-26 France XV: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is sent off as France snatch dramatic win". BBC Sport. 21 June 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Argentina 12-35 England: George Ford shines in fine Test win". BBC Sport. 5 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Guy Pepper". The Rugby Paper. 7 November 2021.
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