So why do they do it? According to sports psychologist Paul Penna, who has assisted teams in the NRL and A-League, the answer may rest in an instinctive reaction to pressure on the field.

“When you’re exuding that much energy your mouth is open already. It makes it really easy to shove something in there and the natural impact is to clamp down on it," he said.

 

But habitual offenders like Suarez demonstrate they are unable to control themselves in the heat of the moment or when trying to intimidate their opponents.

"There's a line in sport, and in every sport, and some athletes can comfortably go up to it and feel in control. But there’s a line that some athletes go up to and lose their control."

It's not just biting, Penna points out, but any number of on-field antics from pinching, striking, the old "squirrel grip" [testicle-grabbing] or even the back-door antics of John Hopoate.

The most famed biter of all time may well be Mike Tyson, who tore off part of Evander Holyfield's ear during a boxing match in Las Vegas. But these five great Australian bites stand out as tempting options on the local menu.

Bumping and biting

One of Australia's original biters, Newtown's Frank ''Bumper'' Farrell chewed the ear of St George forward Bill McRitchie during a match at Henson Park in July 1945. Farrell, a respected policeman, left McRitchie requiring skin grafts and five months in hospital to repair the damage. During a NSW Rugby Football League hearing, Farrell removed his denture to show gaps in his teeth, to which McRitchie replied: ''They were enough for you to do the job, Mr Farrell''. But the league cleared Farrell of the charge, later awarding McRitchie £175 in damages.

The phantom biter

Western Suburbs magpie Tommy Raudonikis outed himself as the "phantom biter" on the front page of Rugby League Week magazine in 1976, his cartoon suitably adorned with a mask and fangs. His bite almost tore off the nose of Manly half John Gibbs, who required seven stitches. Raudonikis was fined $200 for his gnashing efforts.

Big Daddy bites

Proving that Australians can be bitten as well as bite, Wallaby Brendan Cannon was a victim during a 2003 match with South Africa. Bakkies Botha, the Big Daddy of South African on-field brutality, not only left a purple bite mark on Cannon's shoulder but also eye-gouged his opponent, albeit after Cannon retaliated for the bite. Botha was no stranger to a bit of on-field biff, copping a three-game ban for striking Waratahs breakaway Phil Waugh in 2009 and a nine-week suspension a year later for head-butting All Blacks half Jimmy Cowan.

Graham v Slater

Severe punishment was doled out to Bulldog James Graham for biting Billy Slater's ear in the 2012 NRL grand final. Graham insisted he was innocent at the hearing, arguing his mouth had remained open during the tussle, but having watched several different takes of the incident a panel imposed a 12-match ban after just 10 minutes of deliberation.

Biting down below

Also in denial was Anthony Watts, who was suspended for biting an opponent's penis in a Queensland rugby league match last year. "I was wearing a mouthguard and there's no way I bit him on the dick," Watts told media. The Gold Coast Rugby League didn't see it the same way, and imposed an eight-match ban. Watts had been an NRL player but was sacked by the Sydney Roosters in 2011 for disciplinary reasons. He has reportedly been linked to Gold Coast motorcycle gang "The Finks".

- with Georgina Robinson