Israel Folau plans to represent his parents’ motherland in Oceania Cup

The Tongan National Rugby League chairman George Koloamatangi on Monday indicated in the statement that the 30-year-old Folau and his younger brother, John Folau, would play in the Oceania Cup in New Zealand against Britain on October 26 and against Australia on November 2.

A media scrum surrounds Israel Folau after he leaves the Fairwork Commission Source: AAP

The Tongan National Rugby League’s move sparked mixed reactions from his homeland.

The Rugby League International Federation has denied it has given permission to Folau, who had his five-year contract with Rugby Australia terminated in May after it ruled he breached its code of conduct with his contentious social media posts.

He has been a high-profile absentee from the ongoing Rugby World Cup in Japan.