Craig Quinnell
Encyclopedia
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 favourite with the Cardiff faithful. He began his senior career with Llanelli and after that joined Richmond
for two years. Quinnell left Cardiff in May 2002 to join English club Saracens
and, for a short while, Worcester but was among the earliest recruits to the newly-established Cardiff Blues
, playing for three seasons until his injury enforced retirement.
Quinnell won his first international cap as a flank forward against Fiji
in 1995, becoming Wales' first ever tactical substitution, at the age of 20 and now has 32 international appearances to his name (the majority in the second row). He was a member of the World Cup squad in 1999 and has toured with Wales
to Argentina
, also in 1999, and Japan
two years later.
As a player Quinnell had a fearsome reputation with the ball in his hands, but also had a debatable reputation of being somewhat undisciplined, frequently picking up yellow and red cards. Problems with injury, including a serious spinal injury in 2001, meant that Quinnell never achieved as much as his brother Scott.
On 13 April 2006, Quinnell announced his retirement from professional rugby. This came following a neck injury sustained during a game for the Cardiff Blues
against Glasgow Warriors
. Doctors told him that he risked being in a wheelchair if he played rugby again.
Craig Quinnell is the son of former Welsh international Derek Quinnell
and the younger brother of Scott Quinnell
. The youngest Quinnell brother, Gavin
, plays professionally for the Scarlets.
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.
Quinnell played 54 games for the Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
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 favourite with the Cardiff faithful. He began his senior career with Llanelli and after that joined Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
for two years. Quinnell left Cardiff in May 2002 to join English club Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
and, for a short while, Worcester but was among the earliest recruits to the newly-established Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
, playing for three seasons until his injury enforced retirement.
Quinnell won his first international cap as a flank forward against Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
in 1995, becoming Wales' first ever tactical substitution, at the age of 20 and now has 32 international appearances to his name (the majority in the second row). He was a member of the World Cup squad in 1999 and has toured with Wales
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...
to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, also in 1999, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
two years later.
As a player Quinnell had a fearsome reputation with the ball in his hands, but also had a debatable reputation of being somewhat undisciplined, frequently picking up yellow and red cards. Problems with injury, including a serious spinal injury in 2001, meant that Quinnell never achieved as much as his brother Scott.
On 13 April 2006, Quinnell announced his retirement from professional rugby. This came following a neck injury sustained during a game for the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
against Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
. Doctors told him that he risked being in a wheelchair if he played rugby again.
Craig Quinnell is the son of former Welsh international 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 the younger 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...
. The youngest Quinnell brother, Gavin
Gavin Quinnell
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...
, plays professionally for the Scarlets.