A Super League rugby player has been told to pay £2,000 in compensation to a man he attacked following an early morning argument in a taxi queue.

Former Halifax hooker Gareth Greenwood was yesterday ordered to do 150 hours community service after a judge heard how the attack in January left telecommunications worker Christopher Binns with a fractured elbow.

Greenwood, who has moved to Huddersfield Giants since being dismissed by Halifax, pleaded guilty to a inflicting grievous bodily harm and his barrister said he was "mortified" by what had happened.

Prosecutor Shufqat Khan told Bradford Crown Court how Mr Binns had left the Coliseum nightclub in Halifax in the early hours to get a taxi, but was pushed out of the way by Greenwood.

When Greenwood, of Hainsworth Moor Grove, Queensbury, tried to get into Mr Binns' taxi an argument developed during which the 20-year-old ran at him and jumped on his back.

Mr Khan said Greenwood's weight caused Mr Binns to fall onto the taxi and onto the road.

"He landed heavily on his right hand side," said Mr Khan. "The complainant managed to get to his knees and as he did he was punched and kicked in the head repeatedly."

The attack ended when a police intervened and arrested Greenwood.

The fractured elbow meant Mr Binns was off work for 11 weeks and the court heard that he still suffered limited movement reduced sensation.

In addition to compensation for his injuries Mr Binns also made a claim for loss of earnings totalling £8,000. After his arrest Greenwood claimed that Mr Binns was drunk and abusive and said he had hit him in self-defence.

Defending, barrister Michelle Colborne described Greenwood as a caring young man.

Recorder Peter Miller told Greenwood: "This is a sad case. You are a man clearly of great ability and hitherto good character and I give you full credit for that and your plea of guilty.

"But your over-reaction to perceived provocation ended up with the complainant Mr Binns suffering a serious injury to his elbow from which he is yet to recover and may never do so entirely."

He said Greenwood's finances meant he could not pay all the compensation sought by Mr Binns at the moment, but he should pay £2,000 in relation to the injuries suffered by him. Greenwood will also have to pay £100 court costs.