Former Canberra and St George Illawarra centre David Howell has been banned for six weeks after being found guilty of biting an opponent in a Super League clash for Harlequins.

The 27-year-old appeared in front of the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee on Tuesday charged with biting Catalan Dragons halfback Remy Marginet in the last minute of Quins' 48-22 defeat in Perpignan on Saturday.

With Harlequins only having four matches left of the current season, Howell's suspension will be carried over to next year.

He was also fined STG300 ($A447) for the grade E offence, which is ranked alongside gouging and spitting and just below assault of a match official among the game's most heinous crimes.

Howell, who served a one-match ban earlier this year for a dangerous tackle, was playing his first game for more than two months after recovering from a knee injury.

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