Tommy shows Lucy just how much he misses her

IRISH rugby hunk Tommy Bowe is feeling lonely without his other half around while he is on tour -- and he isn't too shy to show it.

Despite taking in the sights of New Zealand with his team-mates, the sporting star is already pining for new flame Lucy Whitehouse and has taken to Twitter to let the former Miss Wales know.

The 27-year-old Monaghan man has been in Queenstown preparing for Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign -- and within two days had messaged his girl to tell her he misses her.

Tommy -- who splits his time between Ireland and Wales, where he plays for the Ospreys -- posted that he is missing his pageant queen on her Twitter page.

Lucy (23) quickly responded: "@tommybowe14 miss you too".

The messages come less than a week after the pair last saw each other.

Although they have never confirmed their budding romance, the couple have reportedly been together for almost four months. Rumours first began to fly between the Ulster star and Miss Wales 2009 when they both changed their relationship statuses online.

The winger was spotted with Lucy in April, getting cosy to the blonde beauty at a Welsh nightclub.

Since then, the relationship has blossomed online, with a trail of flirty messages, and it has been rumoured that the nurse will even accompany the rugby WAGs to cheer on her beau from the sidelines.

The two spent time catching up before the 30-man squad took off on Tuesday for New Zealand.

Lucy tweeted last Sunday: "Having some quality @TommyBowe14 time before he leaves me for the world cup."

While Tommy trained in Dublin with his national side over the summer, Lucy packed her bags to fly back and forth to Ireland to visit the hunk.

sweetheart

She even ditched her red country colours to support her man during his warm-up match against England at the Aviva Stadium in August: "Getting ready for Ireland tomorrow! Guna [sic] be an Irish supporter for the day team Bowe," she said.

Tommy previously dated his childhood sweetheart, Ulster and Ireland hockey international Kirsty McCollom.

The pair split in 2008, following Tommy's move to the Ospreys club -- where he will remain until the end of the 2012-13 season.

Ireland take on USA in their opening match of the World Cup on September 11.