Rugby union player Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins has officially been announced as the new Bachelor!
In a Tweet on Wednesday, after weeks of speculation, Channel Ten FINALLY confirmed the chisel-chested sportsman would be fronting the popular dating series in 2018.
Hunky larrikin Nick, 30, looked suave in the first promotional shot, wearing a white button-up shirt as he held a rose in his hands.
Will he accept this rose? Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins ‘set to be this year’s Bachelor’ as the rugby star takes a break from the Wallabies
The Bachelor account shared, ‘say hello to our new Bachelor, Nick Cummins’, alongside thew picture of Nick smiling with his curly locks.
Nick will be looking for love in the Bachelor mansion, as more than 20 women compete for his attention and affection.
The announcement by The Bachelor account came minutes after Ten’s The Project broke the news on social.
The news show revealed: ‘You heard that right, we can confirm that your 2018 #TheBachelorAU is @nckcmmns!’
They promoted an official chat with thew new Bachelor on Thursday’s show: ‘Catch the first interview with #TheBadgerlor tomorrow night on #TheProjectTV!’
Will he accept this rose? Rugby union player Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins, 30, is set to become the next Bachelor, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph
First reported in The Sunday Telegraph, it claimed the handsome athlete beat out rumoured favourites Cam Cranley and Jason Dundas for the plum role, which was last filled by Matthew ‘Matty J’ Johnson.
The sports star, who has played in the rugby sevens and for the Wallabies, was thought to be out of the running for the TV role, due to his five-year romance with Norwegian artist Martine Thomassen.
However, it has since been reported the pair are understood to have ended their relationship, which has led the way for elite athlete to be signed to the top-rated Channel Ten show.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Nick and Network Ten for a response to the story, however, The Telegraph is reporting an announcement from the network is scheduled for next week.
New Bachelor! Channel Ten producers are reportedly hoping to replicate the larrikin sense of humour with the Port Macquarie-born athlete which proved popular with Bachelorette, Sophie Monk
Muscled single! The Bachelor will be formally announced next week, but The Sunday Telegraph are reporting it will be rugby union player, Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins
Risky business! Nick is known for his sense of humour and is currently the face of a number of brands including Tradie Underwear & Workwear and Beef Australia
Fans of the show might remember muscular Nick being in a comedic Zoolander-type Oakley commercial with Matty J in January ahead of the Winter Olympics – with the pair known to be friends.
Despite not achieving mainstream fame yet, hunky Nick has served as Tourism Australia ambassador and has been on the face of Tradie Underwear & Workwear and Beef Australia.
This isn’t the first time the muscular elite athlete’s name has been thrown around as a possible Bachelor contender – with Bachelor producers rumoured to have set their sights on him last month.
Will he accept this rose? Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins ‘set to be this year’s Bachelor’ as the rugby player takes break from Wallabies team
No go! Muscular Perth-based firefighter Cam Cranley was previously thought to be the favourite for the top-rated show’s next season, however, The Sunday Telegraph is reporting it will be rugby union player Nick Cummins
‘Viewers loved Sophie’s authenticity and the fact that she was so down to earth. Ten felt they might be able to replicate that with Nick,’ the source for Network Ten reportedly said.
With Port Macquarie-born Nick’s down to earth charm, producers are hoping to replicate the success they found with Bachelorette Sophie Monk, who connected well with audiences.
The hunky 30-year-old, known for his broad Australian accent and his trademark sense of humour, is known to be earthy and outdoorsy, often posting snaps of himself to Instagram being adventurous.
Split! Nick is believed to have recently split from his Norwegian artist girlfriend of five years, Martine Thomassen (pictured)
Top athlete! Nick rose to fame as a rugby union player
Prior to this announcement, popular LA-based presenter Jason , 35, was also rumoured to be in contention for the role, along with Perth firefighter Cameron Cranley.
35-year-old Jason, who was crowned Cleo’s Bachelor of the Year back in 2008, is currently believed to be single.
Meanwhile, previous Bachelor Matty J told Now To Love that his money was on handsome Cam Cranley for the win.
‘I’m thinking surely by now they’ve got the person locked in. If I had to put money on someone it would be Cam Cranley from my season,’ the Bondi-based former Bachelor said.
Not in the running: Also considered for the role was male model Jason Dundas
Hunky! Well-built Nick is known to be very outdoorsy