Richard Villasanti

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Richard Villasanti
fullname = Richard Villasanti
nickname = Villa, Villa the Gorilla


caption =
country =
position = Forward
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|5|20|df=yes
placeofbirth = Canberra
countryofbirth = AUS
height = 187 cm (6 ft 1 in)
weight = 111 kg (17 st 6 lb)
club1 = leagueicon|Balmain Tigers|size=16 Balmain Tigers
year1start = 1999
year1end =
appearances1 = 6
tries1 = 1
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 4
club2 = leagueicon|Wests Tigers|size=16 Wests Tigers
year2start = 2000
year2end =
appearances2 = 7
tries2 = 1
goals2 = 0
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 4
club3 = leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|size=16 New Zealand Warriors
year3start = 2001
year3end = 2006
appearances3 = 96
tries3 = 21
goals3 = 0
fieldgoals3 = 0
points3 = 84
club4 = leagueicon|Cronulla Sharks|size=16 Cronulla Sharks
year4start = 2006
year4end =
appearances4 = 7
tries4 = 1
goals4 = 0
fieldgoals4 = 0
points4 = 4
teamA = leagueicon|Tonga|size=16 Tonga
yearAstart = 2000
yearAend =
appearancesA =
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA =
teamB = leagueicon|Australia Kangaroos|size=16 Australia
yearBstart = 2003
yearBend =
appearancesB = 1
triesB = 0
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 0
updated =
source =

Richard Villasanti (born 20 May, 1980 in Canberra) is an Australian former professional rugby league player. Villasanti previously played for the Cronulla Sharks, Wests Tigers, the Balmain Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition and also for Australia. His usual position was at prop forward.

Villasanti was contracted to Harlequins RL but retired in 2007 due to a persistent knee problem. cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=37469&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL&Refid=|title=It is with tremendous disappointment that we have to announce that Richard Villasanti has had to retire|publisher=Quins.co.uk|date=2007-06-19|accessdate=2007-06-19]

In February 2007, he secured his release from the Cronulla club, signing a two year deal with Harlequins RL but never played a first-grade game for the London based club. cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/london/6767345.stm|title=Prop Villasanti forced to retire|publisher=BBC|date=2007-06-19|accessdate=2007-06-19]

Villasanti was signed by the Londoners in as a replacement for Solomon Haumono after having surgery on his knee in Australia. He passed a medical on his arrival in London and was expected to be available after four to six weeks but the knee failed to respond to rehabilitation. cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/07/06/19/RUGBYL_Harlequins.html|title=Villasanti Calls It Quits|publisher=Sporting Life|date=2007-06-19|accessdate=2007-06-19]

Career highlights

*"Junior Club:" Erindale College, Canberra
*"First Grade Debut:" Round 7, Balmain v Manly at Leichhardt Oval, April 18, 1999
*"First Grade Record:" 116 appearances scoring 24 tries

Representative games

*"International:" One game for Australia in 2003

References

External links

* [http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=36918&newstype=n&matchid=&storytype=RL New home for Villa]
* [http://www.rleague.com/db/player/v/villasanti_richard/index.php Richard Villasanti Stats]
* [http://www.nrl.com/RepGames/Internationals/InternationalsNewsArticle/tabid/338/newsid/2403/Default.aspx Villasanti denies Kangaroos tour theft]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/3221877.stm Australia in profile]