Sale hooker Nathan Jibulu has been suspended for six weeks after biting Harlequins prop Will Hobson.
The incident happened in the 69th minute of Sale Sharks’ 26-17 Champions Cup last-16 victory over Quins at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.
Jibulu, 23, faced a possible 12-week ban but the sanction was reduced to six weeks because he pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, is young and has a limited disciplinary record.
Sale, who travel to Leinster in the Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, issued a statement: “Nathan admitted to the offence and both the club and player agree that his actions were unacceptable.
“We are united in our belief that our players should always act as role models and that such behaviour has no place on a rugby pitch or in society.
“The club will be conducting its own internal disciplinary process, but we will continue to fully support Nathan through what has been, and will be, a difficult period.”