Cronulla Sharks prop Toby Rudolf has revealed he wants ‘100 girlfriends’ as the colourful NRL star provided another candid update about his approach to love and relationships.
Rudolf, who previously described himself as heterosexual but ‘open to both genders’, said he was searching for romance without the restrictions of a traditional relationship.
The 30-year-old made the admission during an interview to promote Petbarn’s Seeing Eye Dogs Australia appeal, declaring that monogamy had not worked for him in the past.
‘100 girlfriends. I’m looking for a romantic connection any way it comes,’ Rudolf told News Corp when asked what was on his wishlist.
‘I’m not a traditional male in any sense, I’m all about free love and if someone wants to experience that with me and have an open sort of style relationship, that’s what I’ve had in the past and it works great for me.’
Rudolf said he would be comfortable with a partner seeing other people, provided he was afforded the same freedom.
Cronulla Sharks prop Toby Rudolf has revealed he wants 100 girlfriends while pursuing free love
Rudolf says open relationships have worked well after monogamy failed to deliver what he wanted
Rudolf previously described himself as heterosexual but open to affection across both genders in 2022
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‘I’m so happy for someone else to be happy and to do whatever they want as long as I’m afforded the same rights. I think I just love love too much,’ he said.
The front-rower also revealed he would not impose firm communication rules within an open relationship and would be willing to hear about his partner’s other experiences.
‘There’s no real boundaries from my point of view. I’ll even ask her questions because I like hearing stories,’ he said.
‘And in saying all that, I’m not ruling out the possibility of a monogamous relationship. In the past it just hasn’t really worked out the way I wanted it to and so far this has, and I’m just going with the flow.’
The comments come four years after Rudolf spoke openly about his sexuality while supporting the introduction of an NRL pride round.
He said at the time that he was heterosexual but had shared same-sex experiences and was comfortable showing affection regardless of gender.
‘Sexuality is very fluid. I’ve been out and kissed many gay men, kissed many straight women and kissed many gay women,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2022.
‘I’m not a one-stop shop. Love is love, and I love to share it with everyone. You could say I’m open to both genders but only attracted to one of them.’
Rudolf was raised around several members of the LGBTQI community, including his gay uncle and godmother.
The colourful NRL forward previously revealed he had kissed both men and women socially before
Rudolf partnered with Petbarn’s Seeing Eye Dogs Australia appeal because his mother is legally blind
His remarks followed the controversy surrounding Manly’s pride jersey, which seven Sea Eagles players refused to wear for cultural and religious reasons.
Rudolf also used the interview to clarify his infamous 2021 post-match declaration that he planned to drink ‘1,000 beers’ before visiting a nightclub to ‘try and pull something – anything will do’.
The comments earned him an official warning from the NRL, with chief executive Andrew Abdo describing them as inappropriate.
Rudolf later pointed out: ‘At the time of that interview I never said “women”.’
His latest comments also follow an earlier admission that he had no desire to become a father, describing himself as too selfish to raise children.
Rudolf, who was conceived through sperm donation and raised by his mother Susan in public housing at South Maroubra, said he wanted to travel and experience life without the responsibilities of parenthood.
‘I look at what friends outside of football are going through with exes, partners and kids. It looks like a drain of energy in life and I don’t want that,’ he said at the time.
‘Maybe the fact I haven’t been surrounded by a relationship in my life, maybe that has something to do with it too. You can be happy without having someone near.’
Away from his personal life, Rudolf suggested he was likely to remain with Cronulla beyond the end of his current contract.
‘I want to be somewhere where I’m wanted. That’s where I want to be,’ he said.
‘I think I’m going to be in Cronulla.’
