Toby Rudolf says antibiotics caused on-field bowel incidents that left him embarrassed during two NRL games
Cronulla forward confirmed he soiled himself in consecutive matches this season after gut issues linked to medication; he remains in Sharks’ elimination-final lineup
Cronulla Sharks prop Toby Rudolf has revealed that antibiotics caused gut problems that led to him soiling himself during two National Rugby League matches this season.
Rudolf, 29, confirmed the incidents during an interview on Triple M’s Breakfast show with Beau, Cat and Woodsy after teammate Blayke Brailey outed him in a conversation with former NRL player and Triple M host Aaron Woods. Rudolf said the episode against the Gold Coast Titans was preceded by a similar occurrence the previous week against St. George Illawarra.
"It was (actually) the second week in a row, it also happened against the Dragons," Rudolf told Triple M. "I was on antibiotics and they didn't make my gut feel good. I'm not a perfect human being... things happen."
Brailey had told Woods that the incident occurred early in the Titans game, saying, "It was the Titans game, in the first 10 minutes. He pooped his pants." Woods reacted with visible surprise as Brailey added that Rudolf went on to play the remainder of the match.
Despite the embarrassment, Rudolf has been named to start for Cronulla against the Sydney Roosters in an elimination final at Shark Park this weekend. The selection followed his public explanation and came amid the Sharks' push into the NRL finals series.
Rudolf is a well-known figure both on and off the field. The forward has previously attracted attention for candid comments about his personal life, including remarks in 2022 about sexual fluidity and a 2021 interview in which he joked about post-match celebrations. He has also participated in radio-led publicity events, including a widely reported date arranged by a commercial breakfast show.
Coaches and club officials have not publicly linked the medical issue to any change in selection policy, and Rudolf’s place in the elimination final squad indicates the club considers him fit to play. The Sharks face the Roosters in a knockout contest that will determine whether Cronulla continues in the NRL finals.
Rudolf’s disclosure adds to an ongoing public conversation about player welfare and medical transparency in professional sport, though his comments focused on the immediate cause — antibiotics affecting his digestion — and on his decision to continue playing after the incidents. The Sharks’ immediate preparations for the elimination final will proceed with Rudolf included in the starting lineup.