Brown (36) arrived in Johannesburg earlier this week, linking up with the Highlanders as they prepare for the match against the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning.
Although it was a different team from when he last played in 2004, things were still the same no matter what the level of the sport, he said.
"Rugby players are basically the same right around the world. They all want to win and train hard," he said.
"It was quite exciting to get out there and be part of the Highlanders again."
He said there were some familiar faces from when he last played for the Highlanders in 2004, with Jimmy Cowan, Jason Rutledge, Matt Saunders and Tom Donnelly still in the squad from seven years ago.
Brown said he was contacted by the Highlanders when key first five-eighth Colin Slade went down with a jaw injury.
Once Lima Sopoaga - who was not even at school when Brown first played for the Highlanders - was injured last week, Brown was whistled up to join the team.
"Luckily, our season has just finished in Japan so I was able to come and join the squad and help out as I can.
"I think I'm still a very competitive person and that is where I'm pretty good. I'm training with the team this week and will be ready to do as much as I can on the field.
"When I talk about the rest of my career, I'm probably talking about games, not seasons or years."
Brown has played 83 games for the Highlanders and was a member of the inaugural side when the Super 12 started in 1996.
He had a slight hamstring niggle and did not play in the All Japan league final, where his Sanyo side lost 37-20 to Suntory on Sunday night. He said his leg felt fine and he was keen to get on the field.
He had been excited by the efforts of the Highlanders in the first two games, as they picked up wins over the Hurricanes and the Chiefs.
"I have been really impressed by the fact, not only that they are winning, but the attitude they are showing. That attitude is the hardest thing to get in rugby. Sometimes at the start of the season the rugby things take a while to get going but the attitude is there already."
Brown has spent seven years in Japan, enjoying success on the field as his Sanyo team always finishes near the top of the rankings.
"My time in Japan has gone really quickly. For the general public it probably seems like ages ago but for me the years have just flown by."
Brown, who has a 4-year-old daughter with wife Alex, is returning to New Zealand to be technical assistant to the Otago team in the ITM Cup, and will then return to Japan to help coach the Sanyo team.
"We're looking forward to coming home and have always enjoyed getting back to New Zealand.
"But we still love living in Japan, so this way we will get the best of both worlds."
Tony Brown
First-five-eighth
• Born: Balclutha
• Education: Kaitangata Primary South Otago High School, King's High School
• Age: 36
• Otago (1995-2003): 71 games, 847 points
• Highlanders (1996-2004): 83 games, 817 points
• All Blacks (1999-2001): 18 tests, 171 points
• Also played for: Sanyo, Sharks, Stormers
