Claims Former Richmond premiership player Alex Rance was to be The Bachelor

Richmond premiership favourite Alex Rance shocked the footy world when he quit the game last year. Now there are claims he was supposed to be the new Bachelor ahead of Locky Gilbert.

A podcast has claimed Alex Rance was destined to be the next Bachelor but pulled out at the last minute. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond premiership defender Alex Rance was reportedly set to be The Bachelor before withdrawing at the eleventh hour.

According to the So Dramatic podcast, Rance had “signed on the dotted line” and the girls entering the mansion were expecting to see the five time All-Australian, who has separated from his wife Georgia.

The podcast also claimed Rance had even been fitted out for his suits.

Another suitor was said to be Jett Kenny, the son of Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny, but he found a girlfriend while on the set of Dancing With the Stars.

Survivor contestant Locky Gilbert was then offered the role for a reported six figure sum as plan C.

Alex Rance was rumoured to be the next Bachelor.

The current Bachelor is Locky Gilbert.

But Network 10 and Rance’s management have labelled the claims as untrue.

Rance, 30, surprised the footy world when he announced his sudden retirement effective immediately in December last year.

At the time it also emerged he had separated from his wife. The devout Jehovah’s Witness couple had married in 2012.

Rance cited a greater focus on family and his religion for calling time on his stellar 200-game career.

Alex Rance split with his wife, Georgia late last year.

“Right now, I feel I have served my purpose in terms of my on-field performance and cultural impact and I’m so grateful to the football club for their support and care in allowing me to do that in my own unique way,” Rance said in December when he announced his retirement.

“Now I feel is the right time for me to put the same time and energy into other areas of my life that need it and to prioritise the more important things to me, such as my spiritual growth, my family and friends.”

The children’s book writer was also to embark on an adventure through the Himalayan mountains in Nepal in November.

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Originally published as Claims Former Richmond premiership player Alex Rance was to be The Bachelor