Mike Pyke
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Patrick Pyke (born March 24, 1984 in Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
) is a Canadian dual-code football player.
He is best known in his homeland as a rugby union
player, who played for Canada's
national side and French Top 14 squad US Montauban
.
Pyke is currently a professional Australian rules football
er with the Sydney Swans
.
Pyke first started playing basketball
, soccer and ice hockey
, at St. Michaels University School
in British Columbia, a school which has produced several Canadian national rugby players over the past few decades, before being convinced to focus on rugby.
As an amateur he was a member of various rugby teams based in Victoria, British Columbia, including the Pacific Sport rugby academy – where he led the B.C. Premier League with 210 points in 2003–2004, the University of Victoria
, the Castaway Wanderers, and the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide.
In November 2006, he signed with US Montauban
, where he played alongside Canadian teammate Ryan Smith
.
As of August, 2007, he has 17 caps for the national side, scoring 30 points in the process.
Pyke achieved fame in 2007 for running the length of the field and scoring a try against the New Zealand All Blacks
off an intercepted pass from Dan Carter.
As a rugby player, Pyke typically plays on the wing or at full back, but is also capable of playing most other back line positions.
Injuries sustained at US Montauban saw Pyke look for a career change. A friend, Matt Woodland, who had taught him how to kick the Australian rules football convinced Pyke that he had all the attributes of an AFL great and set in motion the code switch. Pyke put together a DVD showcasing his rugby highlights which Woodland then sent onto AFL player agent Michael Quinlan from Top Dog Management. Quinlan was immediately convinced of the possibilities and after speaking with Pyke several times began dialogue with the Sydney Swans, a team known for unconventional recruitment .
offered him a contract. On 13 August 2008, Pyke signed with the club. The Swans had exploited a new draft rule initially designed to provide a pathway for amateur Australian Rules players outside of Australia to a professional AFL career. Although there were rules in place to protect the Gaelic Athletic Association
and clubs using it for the Irish experiment
, the new AFL draft rule did not preclude the recruitment of talented athletes from other sports such as rugby. As a result, Pyke became the first international sportsperson in VFL/AFL history drafted from a non-Irish sport.
Pyke believed his basketball and rugby background would help him adapt to Australian rules football
with his 200 cm height and 105 kg weight, he saw himself playing as a ruckman
and or defender. Pyke was selected by the Swans as a round 4 (57th) pick in the rookie draft and added to the team's list. In late 2008, AFL player manager Ricky Nixon
(who had set up recruiting networks in Ireland), commented publicly that he thought the Swans were "wasting their time" with Pyke and that the venture would not be successful.
Pyke made an impressive debut in the NAB Cup match against the Port Adelaide Power. His performance rucking against premiership ruckmen Dean Brogan
and Brendon Lade
earned him early favouritism to take the secondary ruckman role, supporting premiership ruckman Darren Jolly
and make his AFL premiership season debut in the Swans opening match against St Kilda.
He was elevated to the Senior List shortly before the first round, leading to speculation he would indeed be chosen, but he was announced on the emergency list for the squad, with White taking the second ruck spot. In the following rounds Pyke played for the Swans reserves side in the AFL Canberra
league. After a 20 possession strong performance with the reserves including some strong contested marks and goals, the club raised the possibility that Pyke's debut would take place in the coming weeks.
Pyke finally got his opportunity with the Swans when selected to play in round 6 of the AFL premiership competition against the Richmond Tigers. In 50 minutes of game time, he accumulated 4 handballs, 1 mark, 1 tackle and 11 hit-outs. While his debut wasn't sensational, he showed enough confident passages of play to be considered as a back-up ruckman for the Swans.
By Round 14, 2010, Pyke finally managed his first senior goal – again against Richmond. In his 16th game, Pyke has been playing mainly as a back-up ruckman with limited success in a Swans side hampered by injury. Whilst his first goal gave the Swans a match high 33 point lead; the Richmond Tigers were to storm home to claim the lead late and hold on for a 4 point victory.
In August 2010 Pyke was given a new 2 year contract with the Sydney Swans.
Swans coach Paul Roos praised Pyke, saying he has developed into a genuine AFL ruckman. “This year, if someone came to their first game, you'd have to point out that this is a Canadian rugby player now playing AFL football, and that's the biggest compliment you can give Pykey,’’ Roos said.
The success of Pyke's move to the AFL was further cemented at the 2010 Sydney Swans Club Champion presentation, where Pyke was awarded the "Dennis Carroll Trophy for Most Improved Player".
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a Canadian dual-code football player.
He is best known in his homeland as a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, who played for Canada's
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
national side and French Top 14 squad US Montauban
US Montauban
US Montauban were a French rugby union club, which competed in the Top 14 competition between 2007 and 2010, after being promoted from Rugby Pro D2 for the 2006-07 season...
.
Pyke is currently a professional Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er with the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
.
Early life
Pyke was born to parents Christine Peterson and Richard Pyke in Victoria, British ColumbiaVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
Pyke first started playing basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, soccer and ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, at St. Michaels University School
St. Michaels University School
St. Michaels University School is a private day and boarding school in the municipality of Saanich, which is a suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The school is currently under the direction of headmaster Robert Snowden...
in British Columbia, a school which has produced several Canadian national rugby players over the past few decades, before being convinced to focus on rugby.
As an amateur he was a member of various rugby teams based in Victoria, British Columbia, including the Pacific Sport rugby academy – where he led the B.C. Premier League with 210 points in 2003–2004, the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, the Castaway Wanderers, and the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide.
Professional Rugby and International Representative Career
Pyke began his professional rugby career at the Edinburgh Gunners in 2004. He won his first international cap against Japan, at age 20 the same year.In November 2006, he signed with US Montauban
US Montauban
US Montauban were a French rugby union club, which competed in the Top 14 competition between 2007 and 2010, after being promoted from Rugby Pro D2 for the 2006-07 season...
, where he played alongside Canadian teammate Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith (rugby player)
Ryan Smith is a Canadian rugby union player, who has played club football for French team US Montauban in the Top 14 division, and has represented at international level. Smith's first appearance for the national side was on June 14, 2003, in a match against England Saxons...
.
As of August, 2007, he has 17 caps for the national side, scoring 30 points in the process.
Pyke achieved fame in 2007 for running the length of the field and scoring a try against the New Zealand All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
off an intercepted pass from Dan Carter.
As a rugby player, Pyke typically plays on the wing or at full back, but is also capable of playing most other back line positions.
Injuries sustained at US Montauban saw Pyke look for a career change. A friend, Matt Woodland, who had taught him how to kick the Australian rules football convinced Pyke that he had all the attributes of an AFL great and set in motion the code switch. Pyke put together a DVD showcasing his rugby highlights which Woodland then sent onto AFL player agent Michael Quinlan from Top Dog Management. Quinlan was immediately convinced of the possibilities and after speaking with Pyke several times began dialogue with the Sydney Swans, a team known for unconventional recruitment .
Switch to Australian rules football
After viewing Pyke's credentials, the Sydney SwansSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
offered him a contract. On 13 August 2008, Pyke signed with the club. The Swans had exploited a new draft rule initially designed to provide a pathway for amateur Australian Rules players outside of Australia to a professional AFL career. Although there were rules in place to protect the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
and clubs using it for the Irish experiment
Irish experiment
The Irish Experiment is the popular name for the interest, primarily from VFL/AFL clubs, in bringing Irish sportspeople to Australia to play Australian Rules Football professionally ....
, the new AFL draft rule did not preclude the recruitment of talented athletes from other sports such as rugby. As a result, Pyke became the first international sportsperson in VFL/AFL history drafted from a non-Irish sport.
Pyke believed his basketball and rugby background would help him adapt to Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
with his 200 cm height and 105 kg weight, he saw himself playing as a ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
and or defender. Pyke was selected by the Swans as a round 4 (57th) pick in the rookie draft and added to the team's list. In late 2008, AFL player manager Ricky Nixon
Ricky Nixon
Ricky L. Nixon is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL and now a high profile Australian sports agent. He is currently serving a two year suspension following an investigation by the AFL Players Association Accreditation Board.-Football career:Recruited from Golden Square in the...
(who had set up recruiting networks in Ireland), commented publicly that he thought the Swans were "wasting their time" with Pyke and that the venture would not be successful.
Pyke made an impressive debut in the NAB Cup match against the Port Adelaide Power. His performance rucking against premiership ruckmen Dean Brogan
Dean Brogan
Dean Scott Brogan is a ruckman in the Australian Football League . He was also a former basketballer with the Adelaide 36ers.-Adelaide 36ers career :...
and Brendon Lade
Brendon Lade
Brendon Lade is a former Australian rules footballer who spent his entire AFL career with the Port Adelaide Football Club.- Early Career :...
earned him early favouritism to take the secondary ruckman role, supporting premiership ruckman Darren Jolly
Darren Jolly
Darren Jolly is a professional Australian rules football player currently playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League . Jolly has previously played for Melbourne, the Sydney Swans...
and make his AFL premiership season debut in the Swans opening match against St Kilda.
He was elevated to the Senior List shortly before the first round, leading to speculation he would indeed be chosen, but he was announced on the emergency list for the squad, with White taking the second ruck spot. In the following rounds Pyke played for the Swans reserves side in the AFL Canberra
AFL Canberra
AFL Canberra is the governing body for Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory.In November 2010 the five AFL Canberra Premier Division clubs merged with the Premier Division clubs of the Queensland Australian Football League to form the North East Australian Football League...
league. After a 20 possession strong performance with the reserves including some strong contested marks and goals, the club raised the possibility that Pyke's debut would take place in the coming weeks.
Pyke finally got his opportunity with the Swans when selected to play in round 6 of the AFL premiership competition against the Richmond Tigers. In 50 minutes of game time, he accumulated 4 handballs, 1 mark, 1 tackle and 11 hit-outs. While his debut wasn't sensational, he showed enough confident passages of play to be considered as a back-up ruckman for the Swans.
By Round 14, 2010, Pyke finally managed his first senior goal – again against Richmond. In his 16th game, Pyke has been playing mainly as a back-up ruckman with limited success in a Swans side hampered by injury. Whilst his first goal gave the Swans a match high 33 point lead; the Richmond Tigers were to storm home to claim the lead late and hold on for a 4 point victory.
In August 2010 Pyke was given a new 2 year contract with the Sydney Swans.
Swans coach Paul Roos praised Pyke, saying he has developed into a genuine AFL ruckman. “This year, if someone came to their first game, you'd have to point out that this is a Canadian rugby player now playing AFL football, and that's the biggest compliment you can give Pykey,’’ Roos said.
The success of Pyke's move to the AFL was further cemented at the 2010 Sydney Swans Club Champion presentation, where Pyke was awarded the "Dennis Carroll Trophy for Most Improved Player".