Keith Mason is to sue the Huddersfield Giants for wrongful dismissal in a court case which starts today.

The ex-Giants player suddenly left the club last October and his solicitor has revealed that he was dismissed for gross misconduct.

And Richard Cramer, principal at Leeds law firm Front Row Legal, says Mason is suing the club for £300,000 plus costs as he had three years and two months left to run on his contract.

The case at Leeds High Court is expected to last two days and Mr Cramer said boxing star Joe Calzaghe – who is a friend of the player’s – is due to attend the proceedings to support him.

The sacking is believed to surround a controversial nude photograph put out on Twitter which Mr Cramer said was not taken by his client and not put out on social media by him.

Mr Cramer said: "We are claiming damages for wrongful dismissal that Keith was unlawfully sacked and it stems from a photograph."

He said the photograph was taken during the players’ celebrations after their final game of the season last year – but the club then received complaints about the image which led to the disciplinary action.

A statement from Huddersfield Giants reads: "We are a community and family club with particular emphasis, through school visits, coaching and free admission etc, on appealing to and attracting children and young people.

"In 2012 a graphic, close-up photograph, taken on Keith Mason’s mobile phone, was shown on Mason’s Twitter account over a period of three days. The picture was viewable by potentially thousands of youngsters and other fans, jeopardising the Giants’ years of work with the community and young people.

"Mason therefore went through the club’s disciplinary process – including an appeal – which led to his dismissal for gross misconduct."

Mason, a former Wakefield, Melbourne, St Helens and Huddersfield prop is now in his second spell with Castleford.

He’s also landed a speaking part in a film portraying the life of Gareth Thomas, who caused a storm when he revealed he was gay.

Mickey Rourke is playing the part of former dual-code rugby international Thomas, with Calzaghe helping him get fit for the role.

Mason and Rourke met each other in a London bar in the aftermath of Huddersfield’s appearance in the 2009 Challenge Cup final.