Sacked Cronulla rugby league hooker Tevita Latu is set to begin court-ordered community service in Sydney for assaulting a woman.

The former New Zealand Test hooker, who was sacked by the Sharks in May and deregistered from the NRL for assaulting a woman, returned to Australia from England on Monday night.

He had only been in the UK a few days after signing a short-term deal with Super League's Wakefield.

Latu is due to report to authorities in the Sydney metropolitan area to begin his 200 hours of community service, a Department of Corrective Services spokesman said.

As part of the induction, Latu will arrange with his supervisor where and when he will perform his community service, which must be completed within 18 months.

He could do the community service in one block, the spokesman said.

He could also, depending on his supervisor, apply for a deferral, although he has already been refused twice for a deferment.

Latu is scheduled to play his first match in England in four days.

The 25-year-old was originally sentenced to eight months periodic detention for breaking the nose of a 19-year-old woman on May 22, but a successful appeal led to that being reduced to 200 hours community service.

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