Sacked Wallabies fullback Israel Folau is set to make a surprise return to rugby league with the Tonga national team, the 30-year-old said on Monday.
Folau's four-year contract for Rugby Australia (RA) and New South Wales Waratahs was torn up in May after he was found guilty of a "high-level" breach of RA's code of conduct for posting on social media that hell awaits 'drunks, homosexuals, adulterers' and other groups.
The decision cost Folau a place in the Wallabies squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
He had flirted with the idea of switching back to rugby league earlier this year but Australia's National Rugby League ruled out any swap back to the 13-man code.
The Tongan organisation, however, said they would welcome Folau and his younger brother John for their tests in New Zealand against Britain on Oct. 26 and the Kangaroos on Nov. 2.
"The Chairman of the Tongan National Rugby League, Mr George Koloamatangi, today announced that both Israel and John Folau will play for Mate Ma'a Tonga in the Oceania Cup to be played in late October, early November," the TNRL said on their Facebook page.
Folau confirmed the move in a statement issued by the TNRL, which said his selection had been approved by the sport's international governing body the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).
"I don't want to bring any of my personal matters into this and I am grateful that the RLIF have endorsed my availability," Folau said.
"What I will do now is focus on playing great rugby league and do my talking on the field."
Folau has taken RA to the Federal Court claiming he was unfairly dismissed on religious grounds.
He is seeking $5 million plus compensation for foregone sponsorship and future contract income from RA and his former Super Rugby side, the Waratahs.