In 1911 Mitchell, along with three other players from the Merivale club, moved to Sydney and played for the
North Sydney Bears. He was then enticed north by the
Queensland Rugby League. At the same time the
New Zealand rugby league side was touring Australia and he was invited to join
the touring party. Mitchell played in four matches, becoming a
dual-code rugby international. Mitchell then returned to Christchurch and represented
Canterbury in its first ever match in 1912. He played for the St Albans and Federal clubs in the
Canterbury Rugby League competition. ==Later years==