The versatile back, who has lit up Old Bath Road and the rest of National One in the past few seasons, bagged a brace against Poland last Saturday to take over the mantle with 22 international tries to his name.

While Rams were out-gunning Rosslyn Park 49-40 in a sunlit cracker, Axel’s double helped him pass previous leader Ian Gowland (21) and continued a sensational run which has seen the centre bag three braces during this season’s Rugby Europe Trophy campaign.

Sadly, Axel’s two tries were not enough to defy the Poles, the winner-takes-all clash ending 29-25 in favour of the visitors as they made it five wins from five to earn promotion to the Championship.

Sweden took a sixth-minute lead thanks to Rams’ Nordic sensation before Tatu Robertsson added the extras, Poland levelling through Lukasz Kornec and Wojciech Piotrowcz.

A Robertsson penalty nudged the hosts back in front before Kacper Wrocel went over for Poland, another home three-pointer giving Sweden a slender half-time lead.

First blood in the second period went to the away side as hooker Dominik Mohyla crossed, Piotrowcz with the extras, the fly-half landing a penalty for 22-13.

An Ale Loman score got Sweden back into things, but with five minutes remaining Thomas Toevalu went over for a converted try for the champions.

And while Axel – who had previously touched down twice against both Czechia and Luxembourg earlier in the competition – collected a second seven-pointer with time running out, his side were unable to snatch victory and had to settle for second place after their best-ever campaign.