FOR YEARS the corridors of the Sydney Swans base have echoed with the sound of foreign accents.

Tadhg Kennelly's County Kerry lilt is said to be stronger since the arrival of rookie Brendan Murphy from Carlow, and next year the signing of County Tyrone's Kyle Coney will add a northern twang to the Irish inflection on the training track.

And this pre-season, the playing group will encounter another foreign accent, with Canadian rugby player Mike Pyke the latest international recruit. Having spent the last two years in France playing for US Montauban, he's just glad his new teammates speak English.

"It was quite difficult because in team meetings I always had to have one of the players who spoke English sitting beside me so they could translate," Pyke says.

"Frenchies are really coy, because a lot of them speak English but they don't tell you. There was one guy who would always listen to our conversations and it was only when I was there for five months that I realised he could actually speak English perfectly."

Pyke took French lessons and his ability to speak the language has improved to the point where he slips into it when attempting to hone his football skills.

"Occasionally it comes out because I was there for so long. So if I get frustrated I might swear in French," he laughs.

Pyke, 24, isn't the first or last rugby player to transfer to France. All Blacks' five-eighth Dan Carter, who will join French side Perpignan in December, has unwittingly raised the profile of Pyke's rugby exploits.

Since the 200cm, 105kg full-back intercepted a Carter pass during a Canada-NZ match in the lead up to the 2007 World Cup for a spectacular try he's become a big hit on YouTube.

"Brendan Murphy found that video and I think he's told every player in the locker room to go and look me up."

YouTube played a role in Pyke's footy research as he watched as much footage as he could before trialling with the Swans, but he admits even the highest-profile players weren't familiar.

"I sort of recognised Goodsey and Barry (Hall) but at the same time if someone had asked me what their names were I would have had no idea."

Australia is the fourth stop in a sporting career that has seen him play union in England and Scotland as well as France. In the midst of it all, Pyke developed a fascination for Australian football thanks to friend Matt Woodland, who lives in Melbourne.

"He really encouraged me and said that I would be perfect for it," he said.

And far from regretting his decision, Pyke believes more athletes would switch sports if the opportunity came their way.

"All the rugby players I've spoken to think it's awesome. None of them have said, 'I can't believe you're leaving'. A couple of them have even said 'Can you see if they need someone else?'"