Boost for Wallabies as

Wallabies fans can rest easy. Australia will go to the Rugby World Cup with Israel Folau after the dual international put pen to paper on a four-year deal.

Fairfax Media understands the contract has been signed for some time but Rugby Australia and the Waratahs decided to delay the announcement. It means Folau will play in Australia until the end of 2022.

It is a big coup for both organisations, who straddled divided public opinion and a defiant Folau to get the deal done some six months after his anti-gay comments caused a social media firestorm.

Negotiations were well under way on the fullback’s contract at the time but the saga, sparked by an Instagram comment while Folau was sidelined by injury in April, put them on the back burner for most of the Super Rugby season.

But after one of his most electric years yet in a Waratahs jersey, the 69-test fullback has recommitted to NSW and Australia for a seventh season in rugby.

He is the latest player to recommit beyond next year’s World Cup, with Rugby Australia recently locking in test captain Michael Hooper and gun young tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa on unprecedented five-year deals.

David Pocock and Kurtley Beale are off contract at the end of the World Cup, as well as Bernard Foley, who re-signed for 12 months only earlier this month. Jack Dempsey and Ned Hanigan are also off contract next year.