Max Pepper
{{short description|English rugby player (born 2001)}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|5|9|df=y}}{{cite web|title=Max Pepper|url= https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/players/max-pepper/|website=Newcastlefalcons|accessdate=3 January 2025}}
| image =
| height = {{convert|1.84|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|88|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://all.rugby/player/max-pepper#google_vignette|website=All.Rugby|accessdate=3 January 2025|title=Max Pepper}}
| university = University of Durham
| relatives= Guy Pepper
|ru_position = Scrum-half, Wing
| years1 = 2024-2025
| clubs1 = Newcastle Falcons
| apps1 = 13
| points1 = 20
| years2 = 2025-
| clubs2 = Bristol Bears
| apps2 =
| points2 =
| repyears1 =
| repteam1 =
| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2024
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = Great Britain
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| medaltemplates =
}}
Max Pepper (born 9 May 2001) is an English professional English rugby union footballer who plays as a scrum-half and wing for Rugby Premiership side Newcastle Falcons. He has represented Great Britain at rugby sevens.
Early life
He grew up in Barnard Castle and studied Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University. He represented England Students at rugby union.{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/2024/05/interview-with-max-pepper/|website=Durham University|date=8 May 2024|accessdate=3 January 2025|title= A family affair: talking rugby with student Max Pepper}}
Career
After being released from the Newcastle Falcons academy as an 18 year-old, he played for National League 1 club Darlington Mowden Park and played invitational rugby sevens for Shogun Rugby and was capped by the Great Britain national rugby sevens team.{{cite web|url=https://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/max-pepper-exclusive-uni-rugby-puts-players-in-the-shop-window-/40142.htm|website=Talking Rugby Union|title= Max Pepper Exclusive: 'Uni rugby puts players in the shop window'|first=Joe|last=Harvey|date=4 May 2024|accessdate=3 January 2025}}
Playing for Durham University he was named the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) player of the year for the 2023-24 season. He also made two appearances Newcastle Falcons during the 2023-24 season.{{cite web|website=Talking Rugby Union|access-date=3 January 2025|url= https://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/newcastle-falcons-sign-bucs-super-rugby-player-of-the-season-max-pepper/40266.htm|title= Newcastle Falcons sign BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Season Max Pepper|date=4 Jun 2024}} He made a try-scoring debut for Newcastle against Caldy RFC in the Premiership Rugby Cup.{{cite web|website=Ruck|accessdate=3 January 2025|url= https://www.ruck.co.uk/guy-peppers-brother-newcastle-falcons-sign-scrum-half-max-pepper-to-one-year-deal/|title= 'Guy Pepper's Brother' – Newcastle Falcons Sign Scrum Half Max Pepper to One Year Deal|date=5 June 2024|first=Tom |last=Sansom}} He made his Premiership Rugby debut against Bristol Bears in April 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/04/21/bristol-v-newcastle-result-bears-record-premiership-victory/|website=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=3 January 2025|title= Bristol surge into top four with club record Premiership win|first=Charlie|last=Morgan|date=21 April 2024}} In June 2024, he signed a one-year professional contract with Newcastle Falcons.
He signed for Bristol Bears ahead of the 2025-26 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/bristol-bears-sign-max-pepper-9973560|website=Bristol Post|date=25 Feb 2025|first=John|last=Evely|title= Bristol Bears hand Steve Diamond a bitter pill as they sign Newcastle Falcons rising star|accessdate=25 Feb 2025}}
==Personal life==
His father, Martin Pepper, played in the back row for Harlequins and represented England B and later became director of sport and second master at Barnard Castle School. His brother Guy Pepper is also a professional rugby union player.{{cite web|accessdate=3 January 2025|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/344068/guy-pepper/amp/|website=The Rugby Paper|title=YOUNG GUNS - NEWCASTLE FALCONS FLANKER |date=7 November 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Newcastle Falcons squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pepper, Max}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Newcastle Falcons players
Category:Rugby union scrum-halves
Category:Alumni of Collingwood College, Durham
Category:Durham University RFC players