London--Leeds and England full-back Zak Hardaker has been fined one month's salary and must take an anger management course, the Super League club announced Wednesday.
The Headingley club have taken action after Hardaker was arrested by police investigating an assault on a student earlier this year.
Hardaker and Leeds team-mate Elliot Minchella were released last month without charge after helping police with their investigation into the incident in Leeds on February 3.
Both players agreed to pay £200 ($299) compensation and issuing a written apology under a "community resolution".
However, Leeds decided to undertake their own investigation into the incident and on Wednesday published the results.
In all five players were punished by Leeds, with the most severe sanctions coming the way of Hardaker.
Hardaker will donate one month's salary to charity, take an anger management course and complete up to 20 hours a week of voluntary work for the remainder of his current Rhinos contract.
Minchella has received a written warning and been fined 50 percent of his monthly salary, while three other Rhinos players who were on the night out in question -- Rob Mulhern, Josh Walters and Ash Handley -- have each received a fine and a verbal warning.
"Our internal investigation has now concluded. It has been an exhaustive process and we are always disappointed when players fall below the standards we expect of them and let everyone else down," said Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington in a statement.
Hardaker received the harshest punishment of the Leeds quintet because of his poor disciplinary record.
The 23-year-old was fined £2,500 and warned by Leeds for breaching their code of conduct after being ejected from of England's 2013 World Cup squad for misconduct.
He also served a five-match ban imposed by the Rugby Football League last year after being found guilty of making homophobic comments to referee James Child during a game at Warrington.
AFP
