Israel Folau’s younger brother John joins Sydney Rays in the NRC

John Folau, the younger brother of Waratahs and Wallabies star Israel, will make his first forays into the 15-man code in the National Rugby Championship after being included in the Sydney Rays squad for the 2018 running of the national competition.

The 24-year-old has played eight games in the NRL for the Parramatta Eels scoring four tries and until last weekend was playing for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the Intrust Super NSW Premiership competition.

In 2014 he was selected in the Queensland U20s side and went on to represent the Tongan national rugby league team against Papua New Guinea.

Folau is an impressive 193cm tall and 112kg and many in the game are hoping he develops along the same lines as Taqele Naiyaravoro.

The Sydney side kicks starts their NRC campaign against the Canberra Vikings at Concord Oval on Saturday after having a bye in the first round.

Sydney will also play games on the artificial surface at Woollahra Oval.