Brown said yesterday he will be tied up with the Japanese national side in June and the Highlanders will be coached by other members of the franchise’s coaching team.
Brown will leave to be the assistant coach of Japan after this Super Rugby season ends and will be helping out the Cherry Blossoms team in the June international test window, alongside former Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.
Japan has home tests against Romania on June 10 and then tests against Ireland on June 17 and June 24.
The Highlanders will play the Lions at Forsyth Barr Stadium on June 13.
Brown said yesterday it was still to be decided whether the side’s All Blacks would be available.
But it looks unlikely. The first test is 11 days after the Highlanders fixture and the All Blacks are looking to play a warm-up game beforehand, probably some time during the weekend of June 16-18.