Canadian Rugby International Switches to Aussie Rules

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Canada's Mike Pyke has thrown away a promising rugby career in France to join the Australian Football League's Sydney Swans in Australia.

While Aussie Rules is a very different game to rugby (requires you to not only run but be highly skilled at jumping, kicking and catching), being a fullback and his tall height and muscle made it much easier for Pyke to convert to the Australian football game.

Here is Pyke for Canada in rugby:

Here he is running the full length of the field and scoring a try:
YouTube - Mike Pyke's try Canada Vs. New Zealand

And here he is as a high flying Aussie Rules player in the AFL:

If you are a rugby player and want to follow the same path as Mike Pyke earning the megabucks in Australia, then make sure you come along to the Canadian National Australian Football Club Championships held between May 16th & 17th in
Toronto, Ontario. There will be a number of AFL scouts at this tournament. More information is available at AFL Canada » Australian Football in Canada

 

[gopher]

Why didn't he play rugger in France or England? The money's pretty good in those parts as well.

As for rugby, I enjoyed the recent Sevens in Dubai and a few Super 14 and SL matches. GREAT stuff! The NRL will start real soon and that's always something to look forward to. And yes, I'll likely catch a few AFL matches as well.

 

[razorgrade]

Why didn't he play rugger in France or England? The money's pretty good in those parts as well.

He was playing for Top 14 French club US Montauban.

He was looking for a career change and sought out Aussie Rules rather then the other way around. Liked watching the "crazy game" on TV as a teenager apparently.:idea:

Well anyway, he just made his debut in the AFL premiership and has become the first Canadian in the history of the AFL, breaking all sorts of records including becoming the fastest professional rugby player in history to convert to professional Aussie Rules.

I've heard he's now working with the AFL to set up an academy here in Canada to assist tall and talented rugby players to make the switch to Aussie Rules.

Great news for the future of the game here !