NRL star Richard Villasanti now in jail on domestic violence charges, years after Brad Fitler hit

EXCLUSIVE: Footy villain infamous for a brutal grand final hit on Brad Fittler is now in JAIL after breaching an AVO police took out for his girlfriend

  • Test rugby league footballer in custody after being convicted of an AVO breach
  • Richard Villasanti had an AVO brought against him by police for his girlfriend
  • She found alcohol on the floor at her house days later, court facts claimed
  • He then turned up to the house while she was speaking to cops and was arrested
  • Girlfriend says she will testify on his behalf in court in the future 

A former rugby league international best known for a bloody grand final hit on Brad Fittler is behind bars today after breaching an apprehended violence order.

Ex-Kangaroos player Richard Villasanti, 38, is in custody at western Sydney prison after violating an AVO that banned him from going near his girlfriend’s home. 

Police brought the order against Villasanti on September 21 last year, a court heard. 

But Jasmine Goldstien returned home five days later to find alcohol all over the floor and damaged personal items, court facts said.  

Footy villain Richard Villasanti played test rugby league for the Kangaroos

Villasanti breached an AVO preventing him from approaching girlfriend Jasmine Goldstien

Villasanti breached an AVO preventing him from approaching girlfriend Jasmine Goldstien

Court facts said she rang the police, but later told them Villasanti was in ‘enough trouble’ and that she couldn’t prove he was behind the destruction as she wasn’t home at the time. 

But about 7.25pm Villasanti walked into the home he had been banned from attending. 

‘The accused made eye contact with police, turned around, walked outside and got on his knees,’ the fact sheet said. 

‘At this point the accused surrendered to police’.  

Villasanti is currently in custody at Silverwater’s minimum security prison, sources confirmed. 

Assault charges against him have been dismissed. He was sentenced to a 12 month community corrections order for the AVO breach. 

Ms Goldstien said: ‘Richard didn’t hit me he came to help me but because there was an AVO in place at my house they had to arrest him. 

‘I’m going to court to testify for Richard as the police wrote a statement that ‘alleged’ things happened’.  

Villasanti just prior to laying the famous hit on Brad Fittler during the 2002 NRL grand final

Villasanti just prior to laying the famous hit on Brad Fittler during the 2002 NRL grand final

A bloodiest and bandaged Brad Fittler after Villasanti's hit during the NRL grand final

A bloodiest and bandaged Brad Fittler after Villasanti’s hit during the NRL grand final

The footballer is best known for a head-first hit on then-Sydney Roosters captain Brad Fittler at the 2002 grand final. 

The shocking blow reportedly left Fittler ‘bloodied and bandaged’ but was regarded as the ‘turning point in the game’. 

It fired the Roosters up so much it powered them to victory over Villasanti’s Warriors.   



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