{"id":903413,"date":"2026-09-24T06:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/903413\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T06:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:38:15","slug":"nrl-captain-kalyn-ponga-and-aussie-swimwear-founder-mimi-bowell-hard-launch-romance-with-single-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/903413\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL captain Kalyn Ponga and Aussie swimwear founder Mimi Bowell hard launch romance with single video"},"content":{"rendered":"

NRL star Kalyn Ponga<\/a> has appeared to confirmed his new romance<\/a> with Australian swimwear founder Mimi Bowell in a post-game celebration. <\/p>\n

The Newcastle Knights<\/a> captain, 28, was spotted getting cosy with the model and entrepreneur, after what looks like a win in a video<\/a> shared to Bowell\u2019s Instagram on Wednesday. <\/p>\n

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The NRL star has seemingly confirmed his new romance with a single kiss. \u00a0Instagram\/@mimibowell<\/p>\n

The video, Ponga is seen rushing over to Bowell before the two embrace and share a kiss in front of the camera. <\/p>\n

The sweet moment appears to have been filmed after the Newcastle Knights defeated the New Zealand Warriors in a nail-biting NRL semi-final last Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The teams went head-to-head at Eden Park in Auckland, where the new couple appear to have spent the past week as Bowell shared a series of love-up snaps from their trip to New Zealand. <\/p>\n

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The Imana Swim co-founder flew to New Zealand to support Ponga\u2019s semi-final game against the Warriors. \u00a0Instagram\/@mimibowell<\/p>\n

\u201cPassport stamped,\u201d Bowell captioned the carousel of photos where the video was included. <\/p>\n

The sports star did little to deny any rumours of the romance between the pair, commenting underneath the post with a monkey and two heart emojis. <\/p>\n

The gallery included serval pics of Ponga and Bowell looking inseparable as they explored Auckland together. <\/p>\n

One selfie showed Ponga wrapping his arm around Bowell as the swimwear founder pulled a kissing face. <\/p>\n

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The pair looked loved-up in a series of snaps shared to Bowell\u2019s Instagram. \u00a0Instagram\/@mimibowell<\/p>\n

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The pair appeared cosy and comfortable together in Bowell\u2019s photos. \u00a0Instagram\/@mimibowell<\/p>\n

Another showed the new couple leaning in together as they posed on the streets. <\/p>\n

Friends and followers rushed to the comments section to share their excitement over the news, with one writing: \u201cit\u2019s OFFICIALLLL \ud83e\udd70.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHard launched \ud83d\udc69\u200d\u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udc8b\u200d\ud83d\udc68\ud83e\udef6,\u201d said another. <\/p>\n

\u201cI love everything about this,\u201d said a third. <\/p>\n

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The couple were exploring Auckland. \u00a0Instagram\/@mimibowell<\/p>\n

Bowell co-founded Adelaide-based swimwear label Imana Swim with her sister, who also appeared to be on the trip to New Zealand. <\/p>\n

Their newly launched romances comes just days before the 2026 Dally M Awards next Wednesday, September 30. <\/p>\n

Ponga, who plays fullback for the Newcastle Knights, received the 2023 Dally M Medal. <\/p>\n