Max Pepper, the former sevens player for Great Britain, has dealt a serious blow to the Newcastle Falcons’ attempt to retain its young players by declining a new two-year contract to “jump ship” and join the Bristol Bears.
In a 10-second call, Pepper, who is now injured, broke the terrible news to Steve Diamond during his ski vacation last week. The wing or scrum half will now accompany his brother Guy to the West Country, where the flanker is part of the Bath squad.
The 23-year-old Pepper, who was having trouble making an impression with the Falcons prior to his arrival as consultant director of rugby, is obviously disappointed to be leaving.
The former Sale and Worcester manager recently told RugbyPass that the young player could fill the void left by England wing Adam Radwan, who signed with Leicester. Pedro Rubiolo, a Pumas lock who has already relocated to Bristol, is followed by Pepper.
Diamond, who is preparing his team for Friday’s home Premiership Rugby Cup quarter-final with Gloucester, said: “Max Pepper has decided to go to Bristol.
I am disappointed because I thought we gave him a lot of opportunities on the wing. He obviously thinks it is better to go elsewhere.
Max Pepper has made the decision to travel to Bristol, Diamond stated as he gets his team ready for Friday’s home Premiership Rugby Cup quarterfinal matchup with Gloucester. I believe we gave him plenty of chances on the wing, so I’m disappointed. It is clear that he believes it would be preferable to go somewhere else.
His ability to play both scrum-half and in the back three made me think of Ben Foden. He called me for ten seconds last week when I was on ski vacation to inform me that he was not accepting the new contract.
“The issue is that when you give these guys chances, they go, and when I got there, he had no contract. I gave him a little one, and over the course of two years, I greatly enhanced it.
“Their representatives and assurances about what they can obtain elsewhere have an impact on these young men.
You need to find out if Max will be given game time at clubs with 60 or 70 players because the agent didn’t call me about him. Under the previous government, boys like Max were not rated since they were considered strays and waifs. Nine out of ten individuals respect it and show some loyalty because I gave them a chance.
Many of the players we are speaking with have committed to staying, and we have had fruitful discussions with Callum Chick, the club captain, on the team’s future, whether or not investment is involved.
