Otago captain Paul Grant is getting some game time for French club side Montpellier and has moved to the side of the scrum.
Grant (26) joined Montpellier for the rest of the northern hemisphere season in November, and after an initial rough start has been getting some consistent minutes on the field.
He played in the side's milestone win over heavyweight Toulouse as Montpellier remains in contention for the Top 14 title.
The No 8 had joined the side as cover when key forward Fulgence Ouedrago was injured and another couple of forwards had also gone down with injuries.
Grant started off the bench over the weekend when Montpellier beat Stade Francais 19-10.
He entered in the second half, replacing Georgian forward Mamuka Gorgodze.
With the win over Stade Francais, Montpellier has moved to third on the table and is only three points behind the two top sides, Toulon and Clermont.
Grant had an impressive match last month when Montpellier had a big 50-19 win over former heavyweight Perpignan.
Grant played on the openside flank in that match and made some nice runs. Former All Black Rene Ranger, who played on the wing, scored two tries.
The former University A skipper played on the flank again for the side in its upset 15-12 win over Toulouse last month.
It was Toulouse's first home loss for more than four years in the Top 14 league and the match was decided by a penalty in injury time.
As Grant was a medical replacement on contract, he was not eligible to play in the Heineken Cup so had some down time to help settle into the city.
His contract is only until the end of the season and it is unclear whether he will stay for another year or if the club is interested in having him stay.
Along with Grant and Ranger, Montpellier also has former All Black back Anthony Tuitavake on its books.
Former England international and Kiwis player Shontayne Hape also plays for the side.
Montpellier is captained by French international first five-eighth Francois Trinh-Duc.
