Career
He played at representative level for England, and Cumberland, and at club level for Seaton, and Huddersfield all over the back-line. Pepperell later coached Huddersfield and Keighley before moving to Sydney join the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Pepperell was the middle brother of the rugby league football players Stanley Pepperell, and Albert Pepperell.
He started playing professionally for Huddersfield in 1938.
Pepperell was a Lance Corporal in the British Army during World World War World War II He was a reserve for Northern Command XIII against a Rugby League XIII at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 21 March 1942. Pepperell played at stand-off half back in Huddersfield"s 2-20 defeat by Wigan in the Championship final during the 1949-1950 season at Maine Road, Manchester on Saturday 13 May 1950.
Pepperell"s Testimonial match at Huddersfield took place in 1950. Russell Pepperell played centre, id est (that is) number 3, in Huddersfield"s 15-10 victory over Saint Helens in the 1953 Challenge Cup final during the 1952-1953 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 25 April 1953.
Pepperell played stand-off/five-eighth in Huddersfield"s 4-11 defeat by Bradford Northern in the 1949 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1949-1950 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 29 October 1949, played, and scored 2-tries in the 16-3 victory over Castleford in the 1950 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1950-1951 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 4 November 1950, and played stand-off/five-eighth in the 18-8 victory over Batley in the 1952 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1952-1953 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1952.
After he finished playing, Pepperell became Huddersfield"s coach. He later moved to Australia as coach if Sydney"s Manly-Warringah club for the 1964 NSWRFL season. He remained in the position for one more season.
Pepperell stayed in Australia and died in Queensland in 2003.