Queenslander
05-03-06, 01:48 AM
Villa on his way out
By Steve Mascord
March 5, 2006
FORMER international prop Richard Villasanti is set to accept the offer of an immediate release by New Zealand Warriors.
The 25-year-old's agent, Allan Gainey, confirmed he had been approached to help the Auckland club out of its salary cap strife by finding "Villa The Gorilla" a new club.
He said he had made contact with two Australian clubs and one in Britain.
Villasanti toured with the 2003 Australia Test squad but has increasingly played off the bench for the Warriors.
New Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is understood to have told Villasanti last week his opportunities in first grade would be limited.
"He's welcome to stay there. They're not forcing him out," Gainey said. "But he's off contract at the end of the year."
"It's well known he's looking to return to Australia. His wife, Renee, is from Sydney. They've just had a small child."
Gainey said playing out the season in Britain with "a strong club" was a possibility.
The former Canberra player qualifies for a Spanish passport, meaning he would not count in a Super League club's overseas quota.
Meanwhile, a number of Warriors players negotiated deferred payments on Friday to bring the club under the salary cap for this year. The arrangements were sent to cap auditor Ian Schubert for approval.
The Sunday Telegraph
By Steve Mascord
March 5, 2006
FORMER international prop Richard Villasanti is set to accept the offer of an immediate release by New Zealand Warriors.
The 25-year-old's agent, Allan Gainey, confirmed he had been approached to help the Auckland club out of its salary cap strife by finding "Villa The Gorilla" a new club.
He said he had made contact with two Australian clubs and one in Britain.
Villasanti toured with the 2003 Australia Test squad but has increasingly played off the bench for the Warriors.
New Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is understood to have told Villasanti last week his opportunities in first grade would be limited.
"He's welcome to stay there. They're not forcing him out," Gainey said. "But he's off contract at the end of the year."
"It's well known he's looking to return to Australia. His wife, Renee, is from Sydney. They've just had a small child."
Gainey said playing out the season in Britain with "a strong club" was a possibility.
The former Canberra player qualifies for a Spanish passport, meaning he would not count in a Super League club's overseas quota.
Meanwhile, a number of Warriors players negotiated deferred payments on Friday to bring the club under the salary cap for this year. The arrangements were sent to cap auditor Ian Schubert for approval.
The Sunday Telegraph