Brighouse called into Crusaders

ONE Otago player has cracked Super Rugby while another is believed to be heading offshore after failing to hit the next level.

On March 29, Otago prop Donald Brighouse turned out for his Dunedin club side in a heavy loss against Taieri.

Tomorrow morning, Brighouse will sit on the Crusaders bench as the defending Super Rugby champion takes on the Jaguares for the first time in Argentina.

Brighouse, who actually turned 25 on the day of his side’s 5111 defeat to Taieri, was swiftly called into the Crusaders after regular reserve prop Oliver Jager was forced out because of injury. Brighouse left earlier this week for Buenos Aires.

It is just reward for the big prop, who had an extremely solid season for Otago last year on the tighthead side, sharing time with Hisa Sasagi. He has not played Super Rugby before.

After his good season for Otago last year he was rewarded with selection for the Samoan side on its northern hemisphere tour.

Brighouse is a former New Zealand Colt, who came to Dunedin in 2014 after playing in Wellington and Auckland.

He is likely to get on the field tomorrow morning — the game kicks off at 9.40am — as starting tighthead prop Michael Alaalatoa, like most props these days, is not known for playing 80 minutes.

Brighouse is unlikely to stay with the Crusaders for too long.

The side has a bye next week and All Black tighthead prop Owen Franks is due back into the team after being scheduled to play club rugby this weekend. Franks has been out for more than six months with an achilles injury.

Meanwhile, Otago loose forward Adam Knight is believed to be heading to France to play club rugby. Knight (24) would take up the contract in France in the middle of the year.

Knight has not been sighted playing for his Southern club this year, although he did play for the Highlanders Bravehearts team this season.

Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Kinley said he believed Knight was exploring options. He was not contracted to Otago this season.

Knight, the son of Richard Knight, who played 171 games for Otago, the most of any player, played every game for Otago last season.

All up he has played 27 games for Otago. He missed the bulk of the 2016 season because of concussion.

He was injury cover for the Highlanders for much of the 2017 season but did not get on the field for the franchise.