His national appointments included being assistant manager-coach of the New Zealand Colts, five years of coaching Colts and All Blacks trials teams, six years on the New Zealand union's appeals council and South Island selector-coach from 1977 to 1986.
A dual All Blacks triallist, Tait played 80 games for Southland from the Old Boys and Wyndham clubs from 1956 to 1963 then 1965 as a halfback, including as captain in 1962-63 and 1965, played against Australia (twice), Fiji, New South Wales Country, France and South Africa (twice).
He coached Southland to beat Auckland in 1971.
Spud said there was no playing thrill to match lifting the Ranfurly Shield off Taranaki in 1959.
Spud was elected a life member of the Southland Rugby Football Union after serving as president in 1993, vice-president in 1992 and chairman from 1987 to 1991.
Spud you were a legend