The Alhambra-Union stalwart was named the Otago Rugby volunteer of the year at the union’s prizegiving earlier this week.
Tait, a police officer, has worked tirelessly for many years for club and province and has also helped out the national team.
He is the coach of the premier two side at Alhambra-Union and also coaches the club’s under-12 side where his sons play.
He has been club captain since 2003 and is also a rugby committee member at Kavanagh College where he helps incoming pupils into the sport at the school.
He has been Otago B manager for five years and also had a year — 2011 — where he was manager for the top Otago side. He also managed junior sides.
Tait is involved in the organisation of rugby for the police and this year was able to secure Forsyth Barr Stadium for the match between New Zealand Police and Australia Police.
Tait also helps out when the All Blacks are in town and was part of the team which assisted the British and Irish Lions when they played in Dunedin in June.
Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said Tait was a deserved recipient of the award.He was an outstanding example "of what is so special about the people involved in our game".
"Over the years Hugh has volunteered his time at a number of levels, from club right through to representative," Kinley said.
"Hugh has played an instrumental role as club captain for the Alhambra-Union club, a role he has had since 2003. Alongside this role Hugh has coached, mentored players, assisted with secondary school rugby and also stepped back in to manage Otago amateur representative teams when the union was short of managers — the list goes on.
"There are very few people that put the amount of time into rugby that Hugh does. His dedication to all levels of rugby is evident in the involvement he has in club, school and representative rugby. Hugh is not involved in the game for himself and his main reason for taking on so many roles is he wants every boy or girl to get the best experience they can out of the game."
Tait has been nominated for the national volunteer award, which will be handed out at the New Zealand Rugby Awards in December.