When Bachelorette Sam Frost made the shock decision to cut Richie just before the final two, hearts all over Australia broke for the tall, handsome blonde who appeared to have swept her off her feet.
But, after recovering from the shock, it’s clear you can’t keep a good man like Richie down.
Channel 10, announcing that the new season is coming soon, this morning confirmed that the 30-year-old rope technician from Western Australia is back for another attempt at finding The One on The Bachelor Australia.
“I am feeling excited, nervous but mostly thrilled about potentially meeting the woman of my dreams,” he tells Woman’s Day.
“I am hoping that through this experience I will meet someone who shares my passion for life, someone that I can wake up to every morning and know I have found that special person that I can spend the rest of my life with.”
After wooing Sam – and even earning a kiss from her before she ultimately chose Sasha Mielczarek – last year, it was clear to viewers that Richie has a lovely way with the ladies.
This was evident again during Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival, when he was seen locking lips with Big Brother beauty Tully Smyth – however the hottest couple of the social season wasn’t to be.
Since then, Richie has been pictured hanging with Bachelorette stars who also faced rejection from Frosty.
Bachelorette runner-up Michael Turnbull last night hinted at Richie’s big news, posting a picture of them on Instagram and captioning the photo, “Richie, I haven’t heard from you in a week, where are you? Miss you, brother.”
Host of The Bachelor Australia, Osher Günsberg, says, “I could not think of anybody better. I’m biased because I got to know Richie quite well in 2015, however I know that I share the sentiment of anyone who watched The Bachelorette Australia when I say, all I want is for him to find the right person.”
Osher adds, “Australia is already behind Richie. In 2016, we get to help him find love. How good is that?”
We have everything crossed for Richie to find love this time, following the paths of Bachelors before him in Tim Robards, Blake Garvey and Sam Wood.