Pepper: I like to cause some chaos

DOMINIC Cummings would definitely have needed his eyes testing had he gone to Barnard Castle and not seen the potential of Guy Pepper.

- JON NEWCOMBE

The openside, an alumni of the town's renowned rugby-playing school, is talked about in the same breath as Tom Curry, so everyone at Newcastle will be keeping fingers and toes crossed that he his injury woes are behind him and his third season in a Falcons jersey will be a breakthrough one.

In his short time as a rugby professional, Pepper has had multiple quad tears and an MCL injury as well as the serious Lisfranc injury that kept him out for nine months last season.

But despite all of that, and strong interest from Exeter, Newcastle fully understand what a prized asset they have on their hands and fought hard to retain him, awarding Pepper a two-year extension in April after just seven first-team appearances.

"I can't thank the Falcons for their support enough, I have had a tough two years and it probably has been tough.

for them having to deal with me," he said.

"I am just hoping for an injury-free year. I suppose it is always in the back of your mind but I am fit now." Pepper's right leg is shorter than the other - thought to be a legacy of treatment he had for juvenile arthritis in his right ankle and he says that probably contributed to his misfortune.