But things seldom work to the script, and now the former New Zealand Colts winger finds himself back in the Highlanders, called in to cover injuries to midfield backs.
Brew said he had not retired from the rugby paddock but the plan for the next month or two was to get his family settled in Dunedin.
''I'd been back in the country two weeks, catching up with my side of the family back in the North Island. I hadn't banked too much on coming back and playing some rugby.
''We were always coming back to Dunedin, but maybe in the middle of next month, when our gear was arriving,'' he said.
Brew played 34 games for the Highlanders and 55 games for Otago before heading overseas in 2006.
He and wife Nicki and children Ruby (6) and Nikau (2) were looking to move back to the family house which they still owned in Dunedin. He was to put his feet up, get his daughter enrolled at school, and then decide on a career move.
That is on the backburner for now.
He last played for the Highlanders in 2006, and said arriving back at the franchise it felt in some ways like he had only left yesterday.
''Coming back into the place it does not seem too long ago. But counting years it seems a long while. There are heaps of faces that are still here. One thing that has made my transition back in easier is the old faces which you see round here.''
Brew (34) has already played a match, logging some minutes for the Highlanders development side in their high-scoring draw against Fiji Warriors at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
''It was a good game to blow out a few cobwebs and see where I am at.''
Brew played two and a-half seasons with the Bristol club before heading to Japan, where he played with Kobe Steel and then linked with Toshiba, which lost the final last month in the Japan Top League to Suntory.
Brew, who will play club rugby for Zingari-Richmond, said he did not think he would be called on by the Highlanders so quickly, although he was aware there were places available.
''It was something of a surprise. Through my management company, they said there is probably a couple of opportunities to fill in. A couple of teams had asked about midfield backs and the chance I had to fill in. I was aware of it, and that it probably could happen.''
Once he was asked last week he jumped at the chance, wanting to see if he still had the ability to compete at Super 15 level.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have named a solid looking forward pack for their match against the Highlanders in Hamilton tomorrow night.
The side has brought in big prop Ben Tameifuna, while Craig Clarke has been rested after taking a slight head knock last week. Former Highlander Nick Crosswell will be at No 8 for the Chiefs, in his first start for the season.
Richard Kahui is bracketed on the bench coming back from his shoulder reconstruction.
The Highlanders will name their side today.
Chiefs v Highlanders
Hamilton, tomorrow, 7.35pm
Chiefs: Gareth Anscombe, Lelia Masaga, Tim Nanai-Williams, Andrew Horrell, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Nick Crosswell, Sam Cane, Liam Messam (captain), Brodie Retallick, Michael Fitzgerald, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Ben Afeaki, Romano Graham or Fritz Lee, Tanerau Latimer, August Pulu, Charlie Ngatai, Richard Kahui or Patrick Osborne.
