Israel Folau has confirmed he’s switching to his third football code, signing a one-year deal with the NSW Waratahs for the 2013 Super Rugby season.

Former rugby league Test and Queensland Origin star Folau was unveiled as a new Waratahs player on Tuesday morning at a Sydney media conference alongside coach Michael Cheika and chief executive Jason Allen.

It ends a month of intense speculation about the 23-year-old’s future since he cut short his multi million dollar, four-year deal with AFL club Greater Western Sydney on November 1 citing a lack of passion for the game after he struggled to adapt.

While a return to the NRL was expected, Folau spurned the Parramatta Eels to switch to rugby union with the Waratahs, who finished in 11th place last season after losing their last matches.