"You literally just forget everything," Cusack said.

"You forget any issues you have in your life and you solely focus on that one moment. That was completely special, being with my wife and baby Rosie.

"The three of us were so happy and content with where we were in life, it was pretty special. It's been fantastic."

Cusack's wife Amy gave birth to their daughter Rosie on February 3, but the Brumbies' baby brigade didn't stop growing there.

MORE SUPER RUGBY

Pete Samu and his partner Rebecca Van Kuyk welcomed their son Grayson six days later, before the Brumbies No. 8 backed up and played a trial game that night.

This is the band of bubs giving Samu and Cusack extra motivation leading into their Super Rugby AU game against the Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

That motivation doubles as a dose of perspective. Samu is a menacing enforcer on the field and has a Super Rugby AU champions pewter mug and 10 Wallabies caps to his name. Cusack is an Olympian with his eye on Tokyo should the Games going ahead this year.

But you can take the titles and the jerseys. What matters most is the feeling you get when you first hold your baby, or the butterflies you get when you walk through the door after a tough day of training to see your growing family.

"It didn't really hit me until the next day I think," Samu said.

"He came out at 1.30am and I played that day against the Force in that trial game. It was a shock but it's pretty good.

"It was pretty special, I think I was still in shock at how he actually came out, it was pretty special the first time holding him.

"It's always special coming home and seeing the young boy, it's probably the best part about coming home now, seeing him. And my dog as well, but I think he is getting a bit jealous."

Cusack admits he has been pretty lucky to date. The 28-year-old has managed to escape plenty of sleepless nights with Amy "putting in some big shifts".

"It's just around the corner I think, it'll change pretty quickly. Every night is pretty much different, tonight could be that night," Cusack said.

"I've been talking to a lot of the boys that have babies, and we've actually been pretty fortunate.

"My wife and baby are going exceptionally well at the moment and that's all you can ask. I'm thankful for the Brumbies for given me a little bit of time to get my body right but also to spend a bit of time with them for the first couple of days."

The sleepless nights are yet to really kick in for Samu but Brumbies coach Dan McKellar jokes he better not get too comfortable, because the journey is just getting started.

"It doesn't stop. Just wait until you have to start taking them to sport," McKellar grinned to the two budding families before the Brumbies' captain's run on Friday morning.

McKellar spends his weekend mornings through winter watching his daughters Maya and Amelie play netball. So how many kids will Samu and Rebecca be racing around the city for sport in a few years' time?

"Initially we said six, but after that one, I don't think she's too keen. We'll see how we go," Samu said.

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND THREE

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Broadcast: Live on Gem and Stan Sport. Tickets from Ticketek.

ACT Brumbies squad: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Mack Hansen, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Harry Lloyd, 18. Tom Ross, 19. James Tucker, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Solomone Kata.

Melbourne Rebels squad: 1. Cabous Eloff, 2. James Hanson, 3. Pone Fa'amausili, 4. Ross Haylett-Petty, 5. Trevor Hosea, 6. Joshua Kemeny, 7. Richard Hardwick, 8. Michael Wells, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Matt To'omua, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Reece Hodge, 13. Stacey Ili, 14. Lachlan Anderson, 15. Tom Pincus. Replacements: 16. Ed Craig, 17. Isaac Aedo Kailea, 18. Lucio Sordoni, 19. Steve Cummins, 20. Robert Leota, 21. James Tuttle/Brad Wilkin/Tom Nowlan (TBC), 22. Frank Lomani, 23. Glen Vaihu.

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