Tonga offers Israel Folau lifeline with a potential 2023 World Cup spot

Israel Folau could be seen in international rugby once again after Tonga offered him a lifeline with a potential chance of featuring in the 2023 World Cup.

The 6ft 4in fullback was recently sacked by both Rugby Australia and New South Wales Waratahs for his second anti-gay remarks on social media in two years, this time in response to Tasmania's decision to become Australia's first state to make it legally optional to list gender on birth certificates to which he posted "Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators. Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves".

Folau has challenged the decision of the Australian board in court and has played 73 Tests for the Wallabies between 2013 and 2018.

The 30-year-old will not be eligible to represent any other country until he opts out of international rugby for three years according to the World Rugby policy but Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has already expressed interest in having Folau in the squad with the 2023 World Cup in mind.

"We'd love to have him," Kefu told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The next World Cup he'd be available for us hopefully.

"It's a long time away, so we'll let the dust settle a bit after his most recent issues.

"We don't even know if he's going to play again. He hasn't indicated where he is going, so we'll wait until the dust settles and then look at those options."