Beau Ryan has taken a break from racing around the world to embark on a new challenge.
The Sutherland resident, a former Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers player and host of The Amazing Race Australia, is on television screens again - this time direct from the jungle.
The 36-year-old is one of a slew of Aussie figures ditching the high life for rice and beans on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
The program, on Ten, was filmed in Australia this year due to COVID challenges, but that doesn't mean it's any easier on the participants.
Ryan said his wife Kara convinced him the program would be a good challenge.
"No communication with loved ones makes [this] probably the toughest thing I have done," Ryan said before heading into the jungle.
"[I'm not looking forward to] drinking the shakes. I can't stomach it. Not keen on being buried in the ground either."
Ryan said he was going to "do what it takes to make my guys proud" and thought his resilience and competitiveness would be his biggest strength in the competition.
But his biggest weakness?
"No food," he said.
"Starvation will rock me.
"I'm no that great with heights, but I'm not keen on being trapped in a box, potentially buried in the ground."
The former NRL star said he didn't want to encounter critters like leeches or other bugs, but wasn't so sure about snakes.
His previous longest stretch without technology came while filming The Amazing Race, where they were off the grid for three days - the jungle would prove an even longer challenge.
Ryan said he wanted to play a social game.
"[I want to] be there for people if they are struggling, support people," he said
"[I'm most looking forward to] meeting new people. Being without my phone will be nice for a bit."
Joining Ryan in the jungle are other celebrities including everyone's favourite Masterchef alum Poh Ling Yeow, former AFL great Nathan Buckley, champion swimmer Emily Seebohm, musician Brooke McClymont, comedian Cal Wilson and more.
Each star is representing a chosen charity, and Ryan is competing for the Mark Hughes Foundation.
The foundation was founded by Hughes, a former Newcastle Knights player, for research into brain cancer.
"The reason I'm here is to give as much love and exposure as I can to my charity of choice," Ryan posted on Instagram.
"Mark Hughes is a good mate of mine, was a professional rugby league player and someone who has fought brain cancer since 2013.
"The foundation was set up after it was established there is little to no funding into the treatment of brain cancer.
"The goal is to fund research in the hope of finding a cure. Brain cancer - cancer in general - is a hideous disease."
Ryan said he had lost "some very special people" to brain cancer and encouraged everyone to support the Mark Hugh Foundation if they could.
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! airs Sunday-Thursday on Ten.
