Rugby: Brown to join Highlanders in SA

Tony Brown last played for the Highlanders in 2004. Photo / Getty Images

Veteran first five-eighth Tony Brown has been drafted into the injury-depleted Highlanders' Super 15 squad and will join the team in South Africa on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old former All Black, part of the team's wider training group, was summoned from Japan as an injury replacement after Lima Sopoaga injured a shoulder in the 23-13 win over the Chiefs on Friday night.

First choice pivot Colin Slade is sidelined after breaking his jaw in a pre-season match, leaving Southland's Robbie Robinson as the only fit No 10 in the squad.

Brown, who played 83 games for the Highlanders, has been playing rugby in Japan since 2004 and was a member of the championship-winning Sanyo team this year.

He will fly from Tokyo to join the team in Johannesburg on Tuesday and team management was confident he would be fit to face the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning (NZT), the Otago Daily Times reported.

All Black lock Tom Donnelly, who partially dislocated a shoulder this month, has travelled to South Africa and may feature against the Bulls.

- NZPA