Mike Pyke

Michael Anthony Patrick "Mike" Pyke (born 24 March 1984) is a retired Canadian dual-code football player, who was a professional Australian rules footballer with the Sydney Swans.

Pyke is the first Canadian national and the first former rugby union professional to play in an Australian Football League (AFL) premiership team, having played in the Sydney Swans 2012 premiership winning side. Prior to his Australian rules football career, Pyke was a professional rugby union player, having played for French Top 14 squad US Montauban and representing the Canadian national side.

Pyke was known for his understated goal celebrations.

Pyke was born to parents Christine Peterson and Ian Pyke in Victoria, British Columbia.

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.

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, 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.