Former Miles Devils, Canberra Raiders rugby league star Luke Bateman revealed as new contestant on The Bachelor

A former Western Downs rugby league star will take his search to find love to our TV screens after being named as one of the new leads in the latest season of The Bachelor.

Wesley Senna Cortes, Ben Waddell and former Western Downs rugby league player Luke Bateman have been revealed by Channel 10 as the new stars of The Bachelor season 11. Picture: Ten

Former NRL star and Western Downs junior rugby league player Luke Bateman will take to Aussie television screens soon after being revealed as one of the new leads for The Bachelor.

Ten’s The Bachelor announced via Instagram last week that the retired Canberra Raiders player will be joined by Brazilian-born Wesley Senna Cortes and model Ben Waddell as the new stars of the reality TV show for its upcoming season.

The 28-year-old was born in Toowoomba and grew up playing football for the Miles Devils before joining the under-20s Queensland team in 2014.

In 2016 Bateman told Chinchilla News he started playing for the Miles Devils at just four years old but after a couple of games, was told to come back when he was older.

“I think I cried when I wasn’t allowed to play,” he said.

Luke Bateman of the Raiders reacts after scoring a try during the Round 21 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canberra Raiders at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, July 29, 2017. (AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)

“Not many kids from out there make it to this level so I suppose in a way it’s pretty pleasing to make it where I have.”

In a statement released by Channel 10, the former footy star said joining The Bachelor was an “opportunity of a lifetime”.

“I’m feeling all the first date nerves – dialled up to 11,” he said.

“I’m looking for a partner who I can build and share a life with, a genuine person who makes me laugh and wants to start a family.”

Season 11 is currently being filmed in Melbourne, after being filmed at the Gold Coast last year when the franchise changed up the format completely and recruited three male leads and encouraged the women to explore connections with all three men.