Network Ten has confirmed rumours that former Wallabies star Nick ‘Honey Badger’ Cummins will star in the sixth season of The Bachelor.
And now the Honey Badger has met his new love interests for the first time at the Bachelor mansion.
Filming started on Wednesday with the usual introductory sequence first up – the ladies walking up the red carpet to the mansion and meet the man they will attempt win the heart of.
The Honey Badger meets his honies! Australia’s new Bachelor Nick Cummins meets the show’s female contestants for the first time… and gets VERY up close and personal with a few
Exclusive photos show how Nick looked nervous as he waited for his first new friend to arrive and was seen staring into space and fiddling with his jacket.
Wearing his trademark curls loose (and still sporting a moustache) he looked dapper in a shawl lapel navy blue tuxedo, which he paired with a crisp white shirt and black bowtie.
And it seems as though the 30-years-old has wasted no time getting to know the ladies.
Full of love! When greeted by the first woman to arrive, Honey Badger went straight in for a kiss and a hug – and the two lingered for a moment in their embrace
When greeted by the first woman to arrive, Honey Badger went straight in for a kiss and a hug, the two lingering for a moment in their embrace.
Donning a metallic emerald coloured frock of similar colour to former runner-up Nikki Grogan, the blonde shared a laugh with Nick and the two looked as though they really hit it off.
Although only day one, the former professional athlete whisked away the lucky blonde for a one-on-one.
Photos of the love-seeking couple showed them walking inside towards the mansion, with a producer seen in the background holding a curtain open for them.
Friendly pair! Nick and the blonde in green seemed to REALLY like each other
Do I know you? It’s yet to be revealed if Nick has ever met any of the contestants before, but he seemed to be very familiar with the first one to arrive
Donning a metallic emerald coloured frock of similar colour to former runner-up Nikki Grogan, the blonde shared a laugh with Nick and the two looked as though they really hit it off
Wasting no time! Although only day one, the former professional athlete whisked away the lucky blonde for a one-on-one
Alone time: Photos of the love-seeking couple showed them walking inside towards the mansion, with a producer seen in the background holding a curtain open for them
Next up came a brunette in a black two piece that consisted of a crop top with strap detail and a floor-length skirt.
She also appeared to get on famously with the affable Bachelor, who was spotted laughing at her jokes.
Although they didn’t share a one-one-one, Nick did wrap an arm around her and also gave her a big hug.
The two chatted for the longest out of all of the introductions and when they bid farewell, they exchanged a lingering look and smile.
The second lovely lady: Next up came a brunette in a black two piece that consisted of a crop top with strap detail and a floor-length skirt
Mates already? The brunette appeared to get on famously with the affable Bachelor, who was spotted laughing at her jokes
Good time: Although they didn’t share a one-one-one, Nick did wrap an arm around her and also gave her a big hug
Chemistry: The two chatted for the longest out of all of the introductions and when they bid farewell, they exchanged a lingering look and smile
Despite his initial nerves, Nick seemed to get into the swing of meeting his Bachelorettes quickly.
The next lady to arrive bore a striking similarity to Married At first Sight’s Davina Rankin.
She wore her brunette hair down and straight – just like Davina – and sported a sparkly silver gown that could have come straight out of Rankin’s wardrobe.
The meeting with Nick seemed to go well as she was seen holding his arm outstretched, apparently teaching him a dance move.
Dirty Dancing: The next Bachelorette to arrive attempted to sweep Nick off his feet with some dance moves
Keeping it brunette, the next contestant to arrive also had brown locks.
She stunned in a high-glamour, floorlength beaded gown, which featured a ribbon details waistband.
The next Bachelorette to hit the mansion may have been a tad more eccentric than her predecessors if Nick’s body language was anything to go by.
Greeting her with a warm hug, he appeared to cross his body with his arms and smile awkwardly as their chat went on.
Stunner! The next lady to arrive came in a high-glamour, floorlength beaded gown, which featured a ribbon details waistband
He was certainly more comfortable with the following woman.
Wearing a striking golden dress with an open, low cut back, she seemed to have an immediate impact on Nick who smiled widely at her and went straight in for a cuddle.
He even took the opportunity to take a full look at her – from top to toe – and did so while holding both of her hands.
None of the women were spotted armed with props or extras, but that’s not to say that this season won’t feature a few interesting introduction antics.
The lady in gold, for example, appeared to give Nick a palm reading.
Cuddle fatigue? The next Bachelorette to hit the mansion may have been a tad more eccentric than her predecessors if Nick’s body language was anything to go by
Not that impressed? Greeting her with a warm hug, he appeared to cross his body with his arms and smile awkwardly as their chat went on
Six foot two statuesque Nick looked good for his introductions and, according to a Kyle And Jackie O listener on Thursday, things are also up to scratch underneath his garments too.
‘Let’s just say that he is not little down there,’ caller Lucy revealed, confirming it was ‘like blown out of the water big’.
The decision to put a high-profile person into the role of the Bachelor comes after the runaway success of Sophie Monk’s season of The Bachelorette last year.
However, Network Ten said Cummins was joining the cast in the starring role because he is ‘physically striking, successful and smart’ and his ‘distinctive one-liners have made him a hero, both on and off the field’.
The lady in gold: Wearing a striking golden dress with an open, low cut back, she seemed to have an immediate impact on Nick who smiled widely at her and went straight in for a cuddle
None of the women were spotted armed with props or extras, but that’s not to say that this season won’t feature a few interesting introduction antics. The lady in gold, for example, appeared to give Nick a palm reading
Loving the look: Nick took the opportunity to take a full look at her – from top to toe – and did so while holding both of her hands
Nick boasts a 15-match Rugby test career with the Australian Wallabies and also played a season with the Australian Sevens.
He also won silver at the Commonwealth Games silver medal and played with the Western Force and in Japan.
Cummins’ media career has also accelerated of late as he takes a break from the game, he’s appeared in various advertisements and has recently been signed by Netflix to co-host season three of Ultimate Beastmaster.
‘I’m really looking forward to throwing everything at this opportunity to finding the one,’ Cummins said.
‘The past 10 or so years has been on the road playing rugby or working on my projects, so I’m very excited to be part of a show that is centred around love and good times.’
Anticipating: Photos show how Nick looked nervous as he waited for his first new friend to arrive at the Bachelor mansion and was seen staring into space and fiddling with his jacket