I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! runner-up Shannon Noll has been labelled “the most Australian bloke ever” but if it really came down to an Aussie-off, we reckon rugby great Nick Cummins aka The Honey Badger would take home the gold medal.
And in case you’ve been living under a rock, you might be wondering why you keep seeing his unusual moniker pop up in your feed.
That’s because, as Woman’s Day exclusively revealed over the weekend, the 30-year-old has landed the coveted role of the 2018 Bachelor.
Despite initial reports claiming it was Bachelorette reject Cam Cranley, Channel 10 have confirmed the larrikan Wallabies favourite is our Bachie.
“I’m really looking forward to throwing everything at this opportunity to finding the one,” Nick said in a statement.
“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.”
So, who exactly is Nick Cummins and what’s the deal with his nickname, The Honey Badger? Plus, we look at Nick Cummins’ inspirational backstory, Nick Cummins’ past relationships and his networth….
Why is Nick Cummins famous?
Not only is he insanely talented on the field but Nick Cummins is freaking funny.
The Port Macquarie-born athlete rose to fame thanks to his one-of-a-kind and often politically incorrect quips when analysing a rugby game.
Understandably, his post-match debriefs have gone viral many times over.
Some of his most famous one-liners include:
“I was busier than a one armed bricklayer in Baghdad.”
“Last year we were all sizzle and no steak, but now we’re off like a bride’s nightie.”
“I bloody was like a rat up a drainpipe in one of them runs there.”
“Like a midget in a urinal you gotta be on your toes.”
You probably recognise his mop of blonde curls and trademark moustache from the Tradie underwear ads. He’s also worked with Head and Shoulders shampoo, Tourism Australia and had his own travel show on the National Geographic channel called Meanwhile in Australia with Nick Cummins.
If that wasn’t enough to add on the CV, he also penned a book called Adventures of the Honey Badger which we’re planning to read asap.
WATCH: Nick Cummins’ stars in the Tradie ad. Post continues…
When did Nick Cummins retire?
Nick began his fruitful rugby career in 2007, when he landed a spot on the Australian Sevens squad before moving to Perth to play for the Western Force rugby union team.
He also represented the Wallabies several times but in 2014, he gave up his successful rugby career in Australia and signed a lucrative contract to play for the Coca-Cola Sparks in the Japanese top league – a move he says he made to make money to help support his family, including his two younger siblings, Elizabeth and Joe, who both suffer cystic fibrosis.
The ultimate sacrifice: Nick Cummins gave up his career with the Wallabies to move to Japan to help finance his sick family.
During his last match on Aussie soil as a winger for the Western Force before his move to Japan, Nick charmed the crowds with his trademark ocker spin.
“Mate, dig a hole and bury me. It doesn’t get much better. Celebrations.com,” he quipped at the time.
He played in Japan for two years before wrapping up his tenure in 2016.
WATCH: Nick Cummins’ retirement speech before he moved to Japan. Post continues…
Nick Cummins’ family
Nick is extremely close to his family and made the ultimate sacrifice for his father, who was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2013, and his brother and sister Joe and Elizabeth, who both have cystic fibrosis by moving to Japan to play for the Coca-Cola Sparks right as his career with the Wallabies was taking off.
“He’s no mercenary. He treasures playing for the Wallabies and all he is giving up is because of his family,” Nick’s proud father Mark Cummins told the Courier Mail of his son in 2014 when he turned down the opportunity to continue playing for the Wallabies.
“He told me that in his heart he couldn’t enjoy himself when he could be doing more for the kids.”
Opening up about his sick siblings and dad, Nick – who is one of eight kids – told Sunday Night he didn’t hesitate to make the ultimate career sacrifice to help them.
Two of Nick’s siblings suffer from cystic fibrosis.
“Every day is a struggle, every breath is a struggle… constant medication, constant coughing, constant vomiting, just struggling just to keep afloat and if you want to talk about courage yeah, that’s two examples of it there. I wanted to get a safety net in an account just ready for troubling times,” he revealed in 2016.
Despite the family’s heartache, their health hardships have brought them closer together.
“I remember the first time I gave Dad like a proper hug you know and that was big. It’s sad that it takes something like this to happen but we wait so long until it’s too late and then and they can be gone you know,” Nick told Sunday Night.
WATCH: Nick Cummins’ father on his cancer diagnosis. Post continues…
“Family’s number one, just that’s flat out it and I think a lot of people when they’re put in a certain position will come to that conclusion and you’ll just do whatever.”
Nick’s bond with his father is particularly special.
“I can tell you it takes it takes a big set of cags to stand in front, like regardless of your environment who’s watching around, and just flat out look at them and go, bang ‘I love you mate you’ve been here for me in all these times you know.’ Give them a big hug, he’s your old man, why is it so hard?”
Yep, this man has a pure heart of gold.
Nick is extremely close with his father. (Image/Sunday Night)
Is Nick Cummins single?
Yes! He’s 100% on the market, which is great news for our 2018 Bachelorettes who’ll be battling it out for the coveted role as Mrs Honey Badger.
His last known romance was with Norwegian student Martine Thomassen after the pair met in Perth while he was playing for the Western Force.
“I finally came to Australia and thought I was going to learn English but, bloody hell, I had to learn not only Australian but also ‘Cummins’, which is like a whole different story,” Martine told Perth Now in 2015.
“Sometimes I’ll be getting into my art and Nick will just play around with the ukulele. He has a little jam session to himself,” she added.
Here’s hoping he brings the ukulele into the Bachie mansion!
Nick and ex-girlfriend Martine were last pictured together on social media back in 2015.
Why is Nick Cummins called the Honey Badger?
Nick dubbed himself the Honey Badger because it’s his spirit animal.
“I come across this little mongrel and just the way it approached life I thought that’s outstanding,” he’s previously said.
“They run 40k a day they bloody attack the most venomous animals in the world and eat them and then when they get bitten – which they’re not immune to – they pass out for a good few hours and wake up and continue eating.”
The 30-year-old dubbed himself the Honey Badger because it’s his spirit animal.
Where is Nick Cummins now?
When he’s not on his motorbike exploring Australia, outdoorsy-type Nick now resides in the beach-side suburb of Manly in Sydney’s north.
What is Nick Cummins’ net worth?
With a slew of commercial partnerships under his belt, it’s estimated Nick’s networth is around $700, 000.
And that could grow exponentially when he steps up as Mr Bachie.
Last year, Matty J was rumoured to rake in a cool $200,000 pay cheque and considering Nick already is a celeb in his own right with over 200K Instagram followers, he could command a hell of a lot more!
WATCH: Nick and Matty J in action together!
Where can I follow Nick Cummins on social media?
Keep up to date with Nick’s hilarious antics on his Instagram page, which you can follow here: @nickbadger
We can’t wait to see Nick light up our screens!
