We made fourteen appearances (or which thirteen were starts) in the 2007 Currie Cup Premier Division, scoring tries against Griquas[10] and the Blue Bulls.
[17] The Super 14 season was followed by the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, with Sykes involved on three occasions.
[18] He also featured in a match between the Lions and an Emerging Springboks side, playing the first hour of a 13–13 draw in Cape Town.
[19] Fifteen appearances followed in the 2009 Currie Cup Premier Division as the Sharks failed to retain their title, losing to the Free State Cheetahs in the semi-final.
[20] A further fifteen appearances followed during the 2011 Super Rugby season, Sykes weighing in with tries against the Force[21] and the Brumbies[22] as they reached the play-offs before being eliminated by the Crusaders.
After seven-and-a-half years in Durban, Sykes signed a three-year contract with Irish Pro12 and Heineken Cup side Leinster.
[25] He continued where he left off, making seventeen appearances for them during the 2012 Super Rugby season – scoring two tries – and played in eight matches for the Sharks in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division.
[26] He made his debut for the Southern Kings in their historic first-ever Super Rugby match, helping them to a 22–10 victory against the Force in Port Elizabeth.
[40] Sykes scored a try in their 42–29 victory over the Bulls in Pretoria in their final match of the season,[41] but could not prevent the Cheetahs finish bottom of the South African Conference and 12th overall.
As a result of the Eastern Province Kings' financial situation, all of their players were free to cancel their contracts and join other teams.