From Rugby Star to BookTok Sensation

Luke Bateman, a 31-year-old from rural Queensland, Australia, has experienced a remarkable career shift from professional rugby player to a prominent BookTok content creator. After sustaining a significant knee injury in 2019 that concluded his rugby career, Bateman later appeared on The Bachelors Australia in 2023. In 2025, he launched his social media presence, which now boasts nearly a million followers across Instagram and TikTok.

Bateman's foray into BookTok, a community dedicated to book discussions, began as a way to connect with fellow readers and openly share his lifelong love for literature. He admits to initial apprehension due to the historical stigma associated with reading, particularly fantasy and romance, within rugby culture. Despite these fears, his genuine enthusiasm for books resonated with his audience.

Beyond his content creation and reality television experience, Bateman is set to debut as an author. His first novel, a "crossover fantasy" blending epic and YA elements, is slated for release in early 2027. The book centers on a teenage boy discovering outlawed magic, aiming to capture the nostalgia and wonder Bateman experienced as a young reader.