Career
Brightwell appeared for Hawkes Bay, Poneke Premiers and Wellington Development in his home country before moving to Birmingham and Solihull in 2008. He then signed for Bedford Blues in 2009, before completing a transfer to Premiership side Sale Sharks. During his time at Birmingham and Solihull and Bedford Blues he also competed for England in the Institutional Review Board World Sevens Series.
Chris was released from Sale at the end of the 2010–2011 season, however was recalled by Ben Ryan to the national sevens side to compete in the inaugural European Sevens Grand Prix during the summer of 2011.
In August 2011 he re-signed for Birmingham and Solihull. In June 2013 he joined Moseley.
