Israel Folau

Folau, 34, was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 for a "high-level" breach of their code of conduct.

He has since switched international allegiance to Tonga and is in line to play at this year's Rugby World Cup.

BBC reports the World XV meet the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday May 28.

Once one of the world's best full-backs, the dual-code international was embroiled in a lengthy dispute with his former employees after a series of anti-gay social media posts in 2018 and 2019.

In the biggest clash of the weekend between two of the heavyweight clubs, Tokyo Sungoliath and Kobelco Kobe Steelers, the Sungoliath came out on top with a dominant win 39-19.

Former All Black Ngani Laumape, who has been in blistering form in his first season in Japan, was kept largely in check by the Sungoliath defence.

Kobelco managed four penalties to narrow Sungoliath’s lead to 17-12 but a yellow card to former Blues lock Gerard Cowley Tuioti gave the Tokyo club a one-man advantage which they used to score from a trick lineout play.

McKenzie, taking over from fellow All Black Barrett as the star import at the Tokyo Sungoliath, was instrumental in their 60-46 win over the Brave Lupus in the opening weekend of the revamped 2022 League One season.

McKenzie kicked nine goals - four conversions and five penalties - for 23 points.

Playing at fullback, he sparked plenty of counter-attacks in the high-scoring affair.

Recalled Wallaby Sean McMahon scored three tries for the Sungoliath who are looking to go one better this year after finishing runner-up in 2021.

The World Rugby Council will meet on November 24 to vote on a proposal to allow players to represent a second nation.

World Rugby officials want Pacific island nations to be strengthened by being able to pick homegrown players who have made their Test debuts for other countries.

Folau has not played rugby union since he was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 following a controversial social media post.

The 32-year-old played for French rugby league outfit the Catalans last year but is on the cusp of a union comeback in Japanese rugby.

The 32-year-old centre had announced his intention to join Queensland-based side Southport Tigers last month.

Queensland Rugby League refused to ratify the move because he was still contracted to his Super League club.

Folau signed an extension with Catalans for 2021 but the club has agreed to release him with immediate effect.

Catalans had initially been considering legal action, with the French side club's football manager Alex Chan saying last month he was "shocked" by news of Folau's bid to make a playing return in Australia.

The dual code international is looking to play with his two brothers at Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast amateur competition, two years after he was sacked by Rugby Australia for social media posts deemed discriminatory by rugby union's governing body.

The Queensland Rugby League (QRL) said it could not register Folau because he had not provided confirmation of his release from a contract with his previous team.

Folau played a season for French side Catalan Dragons before quitting the Super League club last year and returning to Australia with his family.

Palmer’s Mineralogy company is bankrolling Folau’s proposed bid to play rugby league for the Southport Tigers in Gold Coast’s A-Grade competition this year.

The 32-year-old the dual international, who had his contract terminated by Rugby Australia (RA) in 2019 after saying “hell awaits” gay people in a social media post, is hoping to play for the Tigers alongside brothers John and Eni in the third-tier competition.

Palmer has indicated he wants Folau to be on the field for Southport’s clash against Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park this Saturday.

It is Folau’s latest bid to end a sporting exile sparked by his homophobic social media posts.

The former rugby union international told a press conference he planned to start playing next week for the Tigers, a club who controversial mining billionaire Clive Palmer is a patron of.

But his registration as a player has yet to be approved by the Queensland Rugby League.

And now Catalans football manager Alex Chan has responded, declaring Folau’s latest move was a “big shock”.

The Australian Christian Lobby took out the ad this week in The Daily Telegraph in an effort to heap pressure on the NRL, who said no to a return to their league after he left Australian rugby union under a cloud after his explosive sacking and a subsequent court case over a number of disputed social media posts.

On their petition page, the Australian Christian Lobby write: “Israel Folau is a much-loved Australian champion who has been banned from the NRL for once sharing a post on social media that they didn’t like.

Folau is keen to return to rugby league in Australia despite St George Illawarra’s decision to abandon their plans to recruit him. The Dragons were concerned by a backlash from fans and sponsors, as well as a belief his chances of being registered by the governing body were slim.

The setback hasn’t dissuaded the cross-code star from attempting to return to the game in which he made his name. Folau’s representatives reached out to NRL officials to request a meeting, but were told there was nothing to discuss until a team made an application to register him.