Scott Quinnell facts for kids

Scott Quinnell, born on August 20, 1972, is a famous Welsh former rugby player. He played both rugby union and rugby league during the 1990s and 2000s. In rugby union, he was a powerful number eight. He played for teams like Llanelli RFC, Llanelli Scarlets, Richmond, and the British & Irish Lions.

Scott played for the Welsh national team 52 times, leading them as captain in seven matches. He also played three times for the British & Irish Lions. He scored 11 tries for Wales and one for the Lions in international games. In 1994, he switched from rugby union to rugby league. He joined Wigan and played for two seasons, helping them win a league championship. He also played two games for the Welsh national rugby league team.

Early Life and Family Connections

Scott Quinnell was born in Morriston, a town in Swansea, Wales. Rugby runs in his family! His father, Derek Quinnell, was also a famous Welsh international rugby player. Scott's two brothers, Craig and Gavin, also played professional rugby union.

His uncles include another Welsh international rugby legend, Barry John. Scott's godfather was Mervyn Davies, who was also a well-known rugby player.

Scott's Rugby Journey

Scott Quinnell started playing rugby at a young age. He joined the Llanelli junior team when he was just 8 years old. He made his first senior appearance for Llanelli in 1990 when he was 18. He played for Llanelli 146 times and scored 69 tries.

Playing for Wales

Scott first played for the Welsh national team in 1993. He was a blindside flanker in a game against Canada. In 1994, he was part of the Welsh team that won the Five Nations tournament. He was named the best player in Wales' 24–15 win over France that year. He scored a try and helped set up another one in that game.

Switching to Rugby League

In 1994, Scott decided to try a different type of rugby and switched to rugby league. He joined the Wigan team. He played for Wigan for two years and helped them win the league championship. Scott played a key role in Wigan's 25–16 victory over St. Helens in the 1996 Regal Trophy final.

He also represented Wales in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Scott said that the toughest game he ever played was the quarter-final against Western Samoa. Wales reached the semi-finals but lost to England.

Returning to Rugby Union

Scott returned to rugby union in 1996, joining Richmond. He was chosen to go on the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa. However, he had to leave the tour early due to an injury.

He came back to play for Llanelli in 1998. During the 1998–99 season, he faced a challenge with rheumatoid arthritis in his left knee. He played with this condition for seven years, which was very tough.

Scott was part of a Welsh team that won eight games in a row before the 1999 World Cup. Wales reached the World Cup quarter-finals but lost to Australia, who went on to win the tournament. Scott captained Wales for the first time in a game against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium. His last game for Wales was in 2002, a 32–21 win over Canada. He earned 52 caps for his country.

He was also selected for the 2001 Lions tour to Australia. He played in all three test matches and scored a try in the first test in Brisbane.

After the Welsh rugby system changed in 2003, Scott played 59 times for the Scarlets team, scoring 32 tries. He was part of the Llanelli Scarlets team that won the Celtic League title in 2004.

Scott announced he would retire from rugby at the end of the 2004–05 season. He wanted to focus on coaching the Llanelli RFC team. A hand injury in March 2005 made him end his playing career a few weeks earlier than planned. He played his final game in a special match with fellow retiring player Rob Howley at the Millennium Stadium.

Life After Rugby

After retiring from playing, Scott Quinnell became a well-known commentator and expert on Sky Sports rugby matches. He also works as an ambassador for the People's Postcode Lottery and appears in their advertisements.

He co-presents and coaches on the Sky TV series School of Hard Knocks with Will Greenwood. Scott has also appeared as himself in the Sky 1 TV comedy series Stella. In 2017, he co-wrote a book called Leader On The Pitch.

In 2020, Scott took part in a TV show called Iaith ar Daith ('Language Road Trip') for S4C. In this show, he and other celebrities learned the Welsh language. A special Christmas episode was broadcast later that year, where they talked about how they were still using their Welsh skills.

Personal Life

Scott Quinnell is married to Nicola, and they have three children. For most of his life, he lived in Llanelli. In 2009, his family moved to Kenilworth, Warwickshire, because of his media work. However, they have since moved back to South Wales to a small farm near Usk.

Scott has dyslexia, a learning difference that affects reading and writing. He wasn't diagnosed until his early 30s. After getting help, Scott became a popular speaker on the topic. He has supported the Welsh Dyslexia Project and wrote an autobiography as part of a special book series.

In August 2007, Scott had an accident at home. He slipped while getting into a shower and fell through a glass door. He was treated for serious injuries to his right arm and hand.