A former player, having made 16 appearances for Ponty in the 1991 – 1992 season, Burnell also represented Bridgend, Treorchy, Cardiff and Neath as an abrasive back rower and was capped by Wales at A level.
He returned to Pontypridd, initially as Academy Director and then as senior coach in 2003, before moving on to the Blues, where he became head coach in 2011.
Burnell in the meantime also coached at international level with Wales under 19s, claiming the Six Nations Grand Slam and reaching the quarter finals of the FIRA World Cup in 2006.
Most recently, there followed a stint over the border, initially with London Welsh whom he took into the English Premiership, and then with Rotherham Titans.
Having gained a wealth of experience as a coach and rugby administrator at the highest levels, Burnell now returns to his home patch to take up his role with Pontypridd.
