Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) has fined four players for breaching social distancing rules, and games will resume as a 20-round competition on May 28, NRL announced on Tuesday. 

Australia internationals Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr were fined 50,000 Australian dollars (32,000 U.S. dollars), with 60 percent suspended, for going camping at Mitchell's farm in New South Wales state in defiance of public health orders. 

Mitchell and Addo-Carr apologized on Monday, saying the trip was organized for members of Addo-Carr's family who had been having "a tough time."

Newcastle Knights player Tyronne Roberts-Davis, who was also on the camping trip, was fined 10,000 Australian dollars, with 60 percent suspended, the NRL said in a statement on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary was also fined 10,000 Australian dollars, with 60 percent suspended, after he was seen in a photograph posted on social media with a group of women. 

All four players were handed suspended one-match bans as part of "breach notices" issued by the league. They will have five days to respond. 

"The notices allege that Mitchell, Addo-Carr, Roberts-Davis and Cleary have each shown a blatant disregard for public health orders, guidelines and advice and in doing so have brought significant reputational damage to the NRL,” the league said in a statement on Tuesday. 

The season was suspended in March after two rounds due to travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The two rounds of matches already played will be counted and the competition ladder remains in place when the games resume. 

The grand final of the most popular winter sport in Australia's eastern coastal states will be played on October 25 and the competition draw will be determined in the next two weeks. 

Training will recommence for clubs on May 4 as Australian states are starting to relax restrictions amid slow local rate of new infections.  

(With input from Reuters)