Background
Burnell was born in Edinburgh and educated at Reading Blue Coat School.
Burnell was born in Edinburgh and educated at Reading Blue Coat School.
He toured New Zealand in 1993 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for London Scottish. Whilst studying in Leicester he played rugby for Stoneygate Football Club, he was kept in the 4th XV "to improve his rugby education" as his captain put lieutenant Burnell made his international début versus England at Twickenham on 4 February 1989 a match the sides drew 12-12.
His only international try was against The Ivory Coast in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
His final test match was against New Zealand at Murrayfield on 24 October 1999 in the World Cup knock-out stages having previously announce his intention to retire at the end of the tournament. He is an inductee of the London Scottish Hall of Fame.
Formerly national sales director for waste company Biffa, Burnell joined the Waste Recycling Group (WRG) as Commercial and Industrial Director in September 2011.
He was also a member of the 1990 Grand Slam Scotland team Burnell is London Scottish Football Club"s most capped Scotland International player with 52 caps and represented Scotland at the 1991,1995,1999 World Cups while being a member of London Scottish Football Club.