Amid Pride Jersey Drama, Australian Rugby Star Toby Rudolf Talks LGBTQ+ Acceptance

Unlike seven members of the Australian professional rugby team Manly, footballer star Toby Rudolf has no problems with embracing the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. The hot, 26 year old, who casts a Jason Momoa vibe, plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL, the premiere rugby league in Australia and New Zealand. He went public with his response to the seven Manly players who refused to wear the pride jersey and sat out last night's game against the Sydney Roosters.

"Rudolf, a player with big hair and an even bigger personality, is one of very few NRL stars to openly speak about his same-sex experiences, and said while he identified as heterosexual, 'love is love, and I love to share it with everyone,'"reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

"As a result of the outcry, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys said the NRL would consider a pride round," to which Rudolf said he fully supported, thinking it would be a popular step forward.

"I haven't got caught up in the Manly situation," he told the SMH. "What I will say is I was raised by quite a few gay and lesbian community members. My uncle is gay and my godmother is gay, and there's so much love in that community."

Comfortable in his sexuality, Rudolf said he has never been offended by homophobic comments. The SMH contacted him prior to publication to make sure he approved his comments.

"Sexuality is very fluid. I've been out and kissed many gay men, kissed many straight women and kissed many gay women," he said.

"I'm not a one-stop shop. Love is love, and I love to share it with everyone. That's probably why I love going to the all the gay bars in Sydney as well - I love dancing with my shirt off and getting down Universal on Oxford St until 2am."

He added: "You could say I'm open to both genders but only attracted to one of them."

The recent controversy occured when the seven members of the Manlys – Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu and Toafofoa Sipley – cited cultural and religious reasons for their refusal to wear the jersey, in a move that has divided opinion across Australia.

"However, Manly owner and chairman Scott Penn met with the seven players on Thursday and said they are open to wearing the rainbow jersey when the club dons it again next year," writes the Daily Mail.

Rudolf made headlines in 2021 when he said he would celebrate a Sharks win by having "1,000 beers" and go to a local nightclub to "try and pull something - anything will do," adds the Daily Mail.

At the time his off-the-cuff remark was seen as disrespecting women, but Rudolf said he was prepared to try his luck with either sex. "At the time of that interview I never said 'women'," Rudolf said.

Check out these pics from Rudolf's Instagram: