A rugby player and a cafe owner have both died of coronavirus in Yorkshire

Wath Rugby Club have confirmed that life member, volunteer and veteran player John Stead, who was 57, died at the weekend after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus.

The dry liner from Wath-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham, was married to wife Fay and has two children, Luke and Natasha, who are also involved with the club. Luke is a current 1st XV player who won the RFU Senior Vase competition at Twickenham in 2018, with John watching from the stands.

John used his construction expertise to help with a number of projects at Wath's ground, including the installation of the floodlights.

Club president Steve Corns said: "John got involved with the club through his children, and he then played a bit of veterans' rugby. He did a lot of work on the building as well. He was a great bloke who'd help anybody and had a real ability to find things - he was very resourceful. He had lots of friends and would always just get on with the job.

"He was always there with his wife supporting Luke and Natasha. He was well-liked and popular, and he knew how to enjoy himself. He was a big bloke but he had an even bigger heart."

John was awarded life membership as a gesture of gratitude for his voluntary work at the club.

His is the second coronavirus death to hit Yorkshire's rugby union community. Ripon Rugby Club treasurer Jonathan Rutter, a father-of-two in his late 50s, passed away in March.

Tributes have also been paid to a talented chef from Barnsley who passed away at the weekend after contracting coronavirus.

Huddersfield Town fan Nick Georgiou had worked in catering for more than 30 years and ran a cafe in South Elmsall with his partner Lisa Plummer. They are believed to have a young family.

He was a former head chef at the Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate.

Cafe customer Emma Copes paid tribute to Nick, posting on Facebook: "Absolutely heartbroken for Nick Georgiou and his family. Known Nick for 12 years after going in their cafe since Holly was a baby in her pushchair after school drop-offs, Nick was always ready with a smile, chat, askin how you all are."

His former colleague Simon Cotton, who worked with Nick at Cedar Court Hotel, also posted on Twitter: "Just well and truly had the wind knocked out of my sails. My morning started so brightly only to be devastated to hear news that one of my ex-head chefs has just died of coronavirus this morning. Similar age to me. RIP Nick Georgiou. We had many fun times which won’t be forgotten."