The Bachelor: Nick Cummins may have already dated one of his contestants

ONE of the contestants on the upcoming season of The Bachelor starring Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins has known him closely for at least a year and has possibly dated the rugby union star.

ONE of the contestants on the upcoming season of The Bachelor starring Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins has known him closely for at least a year and has possibly dated the rugby union star.

A day after it was revealed the former rugby union star will front the next season of the reality show, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Cummins has a past with contestant Cassandra Wood, who is a former Miss Universe finalist and soapie extra. Wood was photographed in lockdown as the Channel 10 reality series started shooting in Sydney this week.

Cassandra Wood may have already dated the new Bachelor with one friend saying “they were more than friends”. Picture: Instagram/@casswood

Cassandra has been a Miss Universe and Miss World finalist. Picture: Troy Snook

She is also an extra on Channel 7’s Home and Away. Picture: Instagram/@casswood

Cummins and Wood have been friends for more than a year, attending a number of events for GoPro, including a breakfast at the Manly Boatshed last March for the Australian Open of Surf, at which media were present. They also partied at Falls Festival over New Year’s as guests of online dating app Bumble.

One friend went so far as to say they “were dating”.

“They’ve definitely been more than just friends,” the pal said. It’s understood Wood did not know Cummins was going to be the Bachelor until production started this week.

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Channel 10 announced the new Bachelor, former Wallaby player Nick Cummins. Picture: Channel 10

The men of Australia love him for his quirkiness and one liners but will the ladies? Picture: Instagram

In a statement, the network said: “Ten will neither confirm or deny speculation about the identity of rumoured Bachelorettes on this season of The Bachelor Australia, and looks forward to revealing the contestants to viewers later this year.”

Australia’s first Bachelor Tim Robards met his final girl — and now fiancee — Anna Heinrich at a Vodafone event two years before the Channel 10 dating show hit screens. An image of the pair with their arms wrapped around each other’s waist at the event surfaced during the season, despite the pair saying they didn’t recall the encounter.

Sophie Monk’s final man Stu Laundy also admitted he was “obsessed” with Monk and had asked her on a date on his boat prior to going on the show, an encounter they both talked about on screen. The pair have split since the show ended.

Last year’s Bachelorette Sophie Monk had previously met Stu Laundy outside the show. He eventually won but they ended their relationship in late January. Picture: Richard Dobson

The last Bachelor, Matty J had also previously met Laura Byrne, who he eventually chose. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

And Matthew “Matty J” Johnson admitted he and his final girl Laura Byrne had crossed paths at the sauna at Bondi hotspot Icebergs prior to filming and had a number of friends in common.

Wood is based on Sydney’s northern beaches and shares Cummins’ passion for rugby, playing for the Manly Mermaids. Cummins, a former Wallaby who notched up 15 Test matches for the Australian team, also lives in Manly.

Wood was a Miss World Australia NSW finalist in 2017 and has worked as an extra on Home And Away.