SCOTT QUINNELL

Scott Quinnell (born 20^th August 1972 in Morriston, Swansea) is a former Welsh International rugby league and rugby union player, who was a number 8 for Wales, Llanelli RFC, the Llanellli Scarlets and the Lions. He scored 11 tries for Wales and captained his country on 7 occasions in rugby union.

Scot is the son of former Welsh international Derek Quinnell. His next younger brother Craig Quinnell plays professional rugby union, as did another brother, Gavin Quinnell, before losing the sight in one eye after an incident in a 2010 rugby match. The brothers are also nephews of Legendary Welsh international Barry John.

Quinnell first joined the Llanelli juniors aged 8 and made his debut as an 18 year old back in 1990 against Penygroes. He went on to represent Llanelli on 146 occasions, scoring 69 tries in the process.

Quinnell first played for Wales as a blindside flanker in a 26-24 defeat against Canada in 1993. He was part of 1994 Five nations winning Welsh Team and was man of the match as number 8 in Wales 24-15 victory over France that year

Rugby League

He switched to rugby league in 1994 joining Wigan. He stayed with Wigan for two years during this time he won the league and the Regal Trophy. He also represented Wales in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup

He returned to rugby union with Richmond in 1996. He was selected for the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa but a double hernia operation forced him to leave the tour.

He went back to Llanelli in 1998.

He was part of a Welsh Team that won eight straight games before the 1999 World Cup and the reached the World Cup quarter-finals where they lost 24-9 to the World Cup winners Australia. He captained Wales for the first time in a 23-13 defeat by South Africa at the Millennium Stadium. Quinnell played his final game for Wales as a replacement in a 32-21 win over Canada in 2002 after winning 52 caps.

He was again selected for the 2001 Lions tour to Australia where he played in all three tests, and scored a much needed try in the first test in Brisbane.

Since the Welsh domestic game went regional in 2003, he has appeared 59 times for the Scarlets, scoring 32 tries. He was part of the Llanelli Scarlet’s team that won the Celtic League title in 2004.

Quinnell announced his retirement from rugby union at the end of the 2004/2005 season in order to concentrate on his role as coach of the Llanelli RFC Welsh Premier Division team. A hand injury suffered in March 2005 forced him to end his career a few weeks early. He played his final game in a testimonial match with fellow retiree Rob Howley at Millennium Stadium. Quinnell’s Britain & Ireland selection lost 57-67 to Howley’s Rest of the World Side. 

After Retirement 

Quinnell currently regularly appears as a commentator and pundit on a number of Sky Sports television rugby matches. Scott is also a People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador and appears on the TV adverts.

Scott played 244 senior club games scoring 284 points

Internationally  he played 55 times scoring 60 points