A former National Rugby League player has been banned for eight matches after being accused of biting an opponent's penis during a tackle in a local Gold Coast game.

Anthony Watts, who was dropped by the Sydney Roosters two years ago for disciplinary problems, was charged following a video review of the match last week.

The video later showed one of the players pulling down his shorts in front of the referee.

A Gold Coast rugby league judiciary panel reviewed the footage as well as reports from medical staff and match officials and found Watts guilty of contrary conduct.

Watts was sentenced to community service in June for being involved in a brawl between rival motorcyle gangs.

Australian football players have been punished for a number of unsavoury on-field incidents.

Peter Filandia, a former top-flight Australian Rules player, was banned for 10 games for biting an opponent's testicles during a minor league match in 2002.

Former NRL player John Hopoate, who represented Australia in rugby league, was banned in 2001 and sacked by his club Wests Tigers for inserting his fingers into opposing players' anuses.