Derek Gavin Quinnell was born in Carmarthen on 25 November 1983. He played for Llanelli, Worcester and the Scarlets at number 8 and also for Viadana in Italy. He followed in the footsteps of his father Derek and brothers Scott and Craig as Barbarians and scored a try on his debut in the 2006 Mobbs Memorial Match. Gavin Quinnell was forced to retire from playing after a serious eye injury in 2010.