Gavin Quinnell
Encyclopedia
Gavin Quinnell is a former Welsh
rugby union
player. His career was ended as a result of an eye gouge in a Welsh premiership game. He played for several teams in England, Wales and Italy but finished his career with Magners league side Llanelli Scarlets. He is the son of Derek Quinnell
and brother of Scott Quinnell
and Craig Quinnell
, all former Wales internationals.
Before joining Llanelli Scarlets
he started rugby in his home village for Furnace United RFC, as a youth player where he played mainly at Number 8.
In 2006 he left the Llanelli Scarlets to join Worcester Warriors in a two-year deal. He scored a total of nine tries in 20 appearances in his first season at Sixways
and quickly became a cult hero with his all-action displays.
Quinnell can play at Number 8, flanker or lock and established himself as a powerful impact player for Warriors.
After not being offered a new contract by Worcester at the end of the 2007-08 season, Gavin Quinnell was forced to find a new club. He then moved on to Italian Super 10
club Viadana.
On 23 July 2010, Quinnell rejoined his former team Scarlets
on a two-year contract.
Quinnell suffered an eye injury 30 minutes into a game against Cross Keys on 2 October 2010. The following Thursday it was confirmed that, despite the best efforts of surgeons, he had lost the sight in his left eye. The incident is currently being investigated by the Welsh Rugby Union
and Gwent Police
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. His career was ended as a result of an eye gouge in a Welsh premiership game. He played for several teams in England, Wales and Italy but finished his career with Magners league side Llanelli Scarlets. He is the son of Derek Quinnell
Derek Quinnell
Derek Leslie Quinnell , won 23 rugby union caps for Wales both as a lock-forward and as a number eight.Educated at Coleshill Secondary Modern School, Llanelli, Derek Quinnell first played for Llanelli RFC in 1967 and made his international debut for Wales against France in 1972...
and brother of Scott Quinnell
Scott Quinnell
Scott Quinnell is a former Welsh international rugby league and rugby union player, who was a number 8 for Wales, Llanelli RFC, the Llanelli Scarlets and the Lions. He scored 11 tries for Wales and captained his country on 7 occasions in rugby union.-Biography:Scott is the son of former Welsh...
and Craig Quinnell
Craig Quinnell
Craig Quinnell is a former Welsh Rugby Union player.Quinnell played 54 games for the Cardiff club between November 1999 and May 2002 and established himself as one of the backbones of the pack. Though often in the firing line from opposition forwards, he never took a step backwards and was a firm...
, all former Wales internationals.
Before joining Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
he started rugby in his home village for Furnace United RFC, as a youth player where he played mainly at Number 8.
In 2006 he left the Llanelli Scarlets to join Worcester Warriors in a two-year deal. He scored a total of nine tries in 20 appearances in his first season at Sixways
Sixways Stadium
Sixways Stadium is a stadium in Worcester, England. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Worcester Rugby Football Club. The stadium is able to hold 12,068. It opened in 1975 and is located off junction 6 of the M5 motorway, hence the name Sixways.An...
and quickly became a cult hero with his all-action displays.
Quinnell can play at Number 8, flanker or lock and established himself as a powerful impact player for Warriors.
After not being offered a new contract by Worcester at the end of the 2007-08 season, Gavin Quinnell was forced to find a new club. He then moved on to Italian Super 10
Super 10 (Italian premiership)
The withdrawal of Viadana and Benetton Treviso from the league has been compounded by club mergers. Rugby Viadana, Gran Parma and Colorno have merged to form GranDucato Rugby. Overmach Parma and Noceto have merged to form Crociati, both new clubs to be based in Parma. These changes created 2...
club Viadana.
On 23 July 2010, Quinnell rejoined his former team Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
on a two-year contract.
Quinnell suffered an eye injury 30 minutes into a game against Cross Keys on 2 October 2010. The following Thursday it was confirmed that, despite the best efforts of surgeons, he had lost the sight in his left eye. The incident is currently being investigated by the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
and Gwent Police
Gwent Police
Gwent Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the local authority areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen in southeast Wales....
.
External links
- http://www.rugbyviadana.it/eng/home.asp
- Worcester Warriors Profile at WRFC.co.uk
- Guinness Premiership Profile at GuinnessPremiership.com