Paul Burnell (born 29 September 1965) is a former Scotland international rugby union player. He was also a member of the 1990 Grand Slam Scotland team. He toured New Zealand in 1993 with the British & Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for London Scottish. Burnell was born in Edinburgh and educated at Reading Blue Coat School. Whilst studying in Leicester he played rugby for Stoneygate FC, he was kept in the 4th XV 'to improve his rugby education' as his captain put it. Burnell played 13 games for Leicester Tigers between 1986 and 1988.