Luke Bateman’s Journey: From Football Field to Finding and Losing Love on National TV

From NRL Star to Reality TV Contestant

Luke Bateman, born on January 23, 1995, in Toowoomba, Queensland, is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer. His football career with the Raiders came to an end in 2019 due to a knee injury, which led to a significant life change. As Bateman himself revealed, ‘Football was hindering me from moving on to the next period of life,’ noting his desire to travel, meet someone, and start a family.

The Bachelor Australia Journey

Bateman appeared as one of three bachelors in the eleventh season of The Bachelor Australia, which premiered on December 3, 2023. At 28 years old, he entered the show as a lumberjack and former NRL player from Toowoomba, Queensland. Despite his rugged occupation as a lumberjack, Bateman showed his softer side on the show, known for writing heartfelt poems and seeking ‘a genuine person who makes me laugh and wants to start a family.’

Romance and Recent Split

In a romantic finale, Bateman found love with Ellie Rolfe, becoming the only successful match among the three bachelors in the short three-week season. However, the couple recently ended their relationship, three months after the final rose ceremony. Luke confirmed the split in a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle, saying, ‘Ellie and I have separated and would like to keep our relationship private. Ellie has a soul that lights up every room she walks into and I will sorely miss it in my life.’

The end of their relationship became apparent when eagle-eyed fans noticed the couple had unfollowed each other on social media, and Luke had removed nearly all photos with Ellie from his Instagram account.