Derek Quinnell

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Derek Leslie Quinnell (born 1949 in Llanelli), won 23 rugby union caps for Wales both as a lock-forward and as a No. 8.

Educated at Coleshill School, Derek Quinnell first played for Llanelli RFC in 1967 and made his international debut for Wales against France in 1972.He captained Llanelli in 1979-80 and went on three British and Irish Lions tours. He was the only player in the Lions squad not to have been capped by his country when he went on the tour to New Zealand in 1971, playing in one test. He went to New Zealand again in 1977, playing in two tests, and finally to South Africa in 1980, again playing in two tests.

Remarkably, three of his sons, Scott, Craig and Gavin went on to play top-flight professional rugby, with Scott and Craig both winning caps for Wales.

Derek's youngest son, Gavin, is now playing professionally for Worcester in the Guinness Premiership, and has been tipped as a future Welsh international.

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