Career
He played as back-row/number 8. Brain had more than 100 caps for Counties Manukau. He played for Auckland Blues (1996) and Waikato Chiefs (1997/98), in New Zealand, and Valence d"Agen (1993), in France.
He moved to Toyota Motor Company, in Japan, where he would play from 1999 to 2002.
Brain played for New Zealand Māaori, from 1989 to 1998, and was also their captain. In September 2010, he took charge as coach of Portugal, with a contract for three years.
He started well, performing strongly but his results later disappointed. He left in late March 2013 when his contract expired, with a mixed legacy of results.
After returning to New Zealand Errol brain was travelling back and forth on and off to Japan, were he coached.
But final family decision was to not move to Japan but to buy a business and settle down in Tauranga.