NEWS RELEASE No. 08 - 02

Vancouver, British Columbia, February 6th, 2008 - Rye Patch Gold Corp (TSX-V: RPM and RPM.WT) ("Rye Patch" or the "Company") announces that it has executed an exploration option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Barrick Gold Exploration Inc. ("Barrick") in respect of the Keystone South property located south of the Cortez Joint Venture within the Cortez Gold Trend.

The Keystone South property is located south of the multi-million ounce Cortez Hills gold deposit along the Cortez Gold Trend. The Property consists of 207 unpatented lode claims covering 6.5 square miles, and contains key features that are known to control and localize gold along this major Nevada gold belt. These features include being along the margin of the Tonkin Springs lower plate window and at the edge of the Eocene-age Keystone intrusive body, and along trend of the regional Cortez trend anticline which is believed to pass beneath the project. In addition, the younger pediment cover rocks on the property are paramount for the formation and preservation of oxide gold. The presence of these geologic features makes the project ideal for a Carlin-style gold discovery.

"Our geologic team is intimately familiar with the gold controls at the Cortez Hills and Pipeline deposits since the group worked within and for the Cortez Joint Venture on these deposits when Placer Dome was the operator. The geologic team is very excited by this new acquisition in prime gold country, and Rye Patch will apply its Cortez experience and knowledge toward the discovery of a new gold deposit on the Keystone South project. The Cortez trend is a significantly under-developed gold trend in Nevada which begs the question of whether this feature is similar to the Carlin trend and contains potential for 100-million ounces of gold. The target size potential of the Keystone South property is why this ground is worth the test", said William C. (Bill) Howald, CEO and President.

Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Rye Patch may acquire a 60% interest in the Property by incurring minimum exploration expenditures totalling US$1million over four years. Rye Patch is obligated under the Option Agreement to make the first US$150,000 in exploration expenditures by January 2009, with the remaining expenditures at the election of Rye Patch. Upon Rye Patch exercising the option, Barrick may elect to enter into a joint venture with Rye Patch pursuant to which Barrick's interest in respect of the Property will be 40% (and Rye Patch's 60%), or otherwise elect not to enter into a joint venture with Rye Patch, in which case, Barrick will divest all of its interest in the Property to Rye Patch in return for a 2% net smelter return royalty. The Agreement does not contain a back-in clause.

Dr. Radu Conelea, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #06871, the Company's Chief Geologist, is the Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the scientific and technical work on the exploration program and has reviewed the technical disclosure in this press release.

Rye Patch Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused and discovery-driven company building a sizeable inventory of gold resource assets in the mining friendly state of Nevada, USA. The Company's seasoned management team is engaged in acquisition, exploration and development of quality resource-based gold projects. Rye Patch Gold is developing its primary assets -- the advanced-stage Wilco project located within the Humboldt Gold Trend in west-central Nevada and the Jessup project in Churchill County, Nevada. The Company is seeking gold opportunities that continue to create shareholder value and leverage the gold price.

Rye Patch Gold trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol RPM and the Company's warrants trade under the symbol RPM.WT. For more information about Rye Patch Gold, please visit our website at www.ryepatchgold.com .

On behalf of the Board of Directors
'William Howald'
William C. (Bill) Howald, CEO & President

For additional information contact:
Ms. Karen Robb, Manager Investor Relations
Rye Patch Gold Corp.
info@ryepatchgold.com
Phone: 604-638-1588
Fax: 604-638-1589

Mr. Jon Ruby
The Buick Group
jruby@buickgroup.com
Phone: 1-877-748-0914

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Suite 1740 - 1177 West Hastings St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 2K3, Canada
Phone 604-638-1588    Fax 604-638-1589    www.ryepatchgold.com