Ben Burnell was nurtured by his local club Llantwit Fardre through junior levels, also becoming a regular in the Pontypridd Schools’ successful Dewar Shield squads.
Drafted into the regional set-up, Ben played for Cardiff Rugby at the under 18 age grade and was allocated to the Academy, in the meantime being capped by Wales at under 18 and under 20 level.
In the summer of 2021 Ben was linked to the Pontypridd senior squad as a regional academy intern.