Burnell remained the head coach of the U19s the following year when they reached the semi-final of the FIRA World Cup in Belfast.
He was appointed Forwards Coach of Cardiff Blues in 2008, assisting Dai Young in leading them to a Heineken Cup Semi-Final in 2009, winning the EDF in 2009 and winning the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2010.
[1] In July 2011 Burnell and Gareth Baber were appointed head coaches of the Cardiff Blues following the resignation of Dai Young, guiding them to the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup – the only Welsh Region to reach the knockout stages that season.
During the 2014/15 season, it was claimed that London Welsh were underfunded by up to £2 million, in comparison to other Premiership teams, and thereby were not given a level playing field, ergo making it difficult for them to compete in a competition.
Burnell is now head coach of WRU Premiership side Pontypridd RFC.