Career
During his playing career as a back row forward Burnell played for Cardiff Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Pontypridd Reconstruction Finance Corporation and Neath Reconstruction Finance Corporation. He also gained Wales A Honours. Burnell was Academy Director at Welsh regional side Cardiff Blues and Head Coach at Cardiff Reconstruction Finance Corporation. In the same season he coached them to the quarter finals of the Foreign Investment Review Agency World Cup. Burnell remained the Head coach of the U19"s the following year when they reached the semi-final of the Foreign Investment Review Agency World Cup in Belfast.
In June 2013, Burnell took up the position of Head Coach for London Welsh.
He guided them to promotion after beating big spending Bristol Reconstruction Finance Corporation over two legs, winning 27-8 in the first game at the Kassam and then beating them again, 20-21, in the second game at the Memorial Stadium, securing promotion to the Aviva Premiership. During the 2014/15 season, it has much been publicised that London Welsh have been underfunded by up to £2 million in comparison to other Premiership teams, and were not given a level playing field, making it very difficult for them to compete.
In March 2015, Burnell paid the price for this and parted company with the Exiles.
