Johannesburg: Northern Bulls prop Pierre Schoeman was suspended for six weeks on Tuesday after biting a Melbourne Rebels forward in a Super Rugby match last weekend.
The South African pleaded guilty and showed remorse, which helped halve a possible ban of 12 weeks, a statement from the competition organisers said.
Schoeman will miss home matches against Otago Highlanders, Coastal Sharks and ACT Brumbies, and visits to Western Stormers and Jaguares.
The loosehead bit Rebels loose forward Richard Hardwick during the second half of a match in Pretoria last Saturday won 28-10 by Bulls.
Bulls are eighth in the combined Super Rugby standings and the top eight teams after the league season qualify for the quarter-finals.
Former South Africa under-20 international Schoeman, 23, leaves Bulls after the Super Rugby season to join Edinburgh on a three-year contract.
