Local team sports have been off for much of the past year with Covid-19 restrictions, but some Sandbach rugby club players have been kept busy off the field with their own mini baby boom.

Over the course of the pandemic, seven babies have been born to members of the club's senior section, including two cousins just weeks apart.

Mark and Steph Bird were the first to kick things off when they had Louis Thomas Bird, weighing 7.6lbs, on 12 May during the first lockdown.

Louis was soon followed by his younger cousin, Albie George Bird (8.5lbs), born on 23 July to Amy and Andrew Bird, Mark's brother.

Andrew, who is the club's director of rugby, told Sandbach Nub News: "We are obviously missing being able to go down to the rugby club and showing the babies off, which I think all of the guys are.

"My brother and I managed to get two replica baby kits made for us from the supplier with our names and numbers on the back. But we haven't actually had a chance to go down to the club and wear them, which would've made a great picture."

Mark said he wasn't fully aware of how many babies had been born to players until Andrew put it together.

"There's me, my brother and then Jimmy Reilly, who I went to university with, who already has a daughter and was desperate for a boy when he found out me and Andrew had boys. It was great when he found out he was having a boy, so we have a nine, 10 and a 12," Mark said.

Jimmy and his wife, Cathy Reilly, a physio at the club, had baby Jonah James Reilly on 31 December, weighing 7.2lbs.

He said: "It was supposed to be a quiet new years eve, but that turned out to be very different and he came around 6pm. I suppose having your birthday around that time at Christmas is the best, so we're really pleased. We've already got a girl, so it's great to have one of both."

The fathers reflected on the challenges facing countless parents across the country raising a baby during the pandemic.

Andrew said: "We found it a bit difficult as we're both working professionals and we didn't have any real support from things like antenatal clinics and I couldn't go in for scans.

"Then when the baby was born, there was the difficulty of seeing extended and even close family. Luckily we have a support bubble in place."

Once restrictions are lifted, Andrew hopes the new parents will be able to come together and discuss their experiences, saying: "There hasn't been much press around the mental and social aspect of antenatal and postnatal care, which is really important."

He added: "But we're pretty fortunate. I think the overriding message for a lot of the guys, especially those who live in Sandbach, is that we are in a community where if you do go for a socially distance walk around the park or into town to go and get a coffee from Raffaele's for example, you are actually going to see a few people."

The dads are hopeful that their children will go onto form the next generation of Sandbach RUFC and get as much enjoyment out of it as they have.

Mark said: "We are really looking forward to seeing them down there. The club has been a big part of my life since I was six and I've played for the first team for 16 years now.

"I'm sure the kids will become part of the furniture and we will be standing at the sideline saying how good we were in our day."

Jimmy added: "All we've ever known since the age of four is going up to rugby club's on a Saturday while your dad was playing and mum watching, then they'd have a drink and we would just play around from midday until the early evening.

"It's really good that there's going to be lots of boys and girls Jonah's age who are my friends' kids and they're just going to play together, growing up."

The other club members to welcome new additions to their families are:

Ian and Liv McDermott who welcomed Henrietta Monica Ann McDermott on 6 August, weighing 7.9lbs.

Tom Poole and partner Angel welcomed Bonnie-Ray Poole on 1 December, weighing 5.9lbs.

Richard Canon and partner Charlotte welcomed Amelia Anne Cannon 5 February, weighing 7.1lb.

Freddie & Kirstie Oakey welcomed the Elizabeth Claire Louise Oakey on 7 February at 8.15lbs.