Melrose tighthead prop Zen Szwagrzak helps Polish national team claim pole position in Rugby Europe Trophy

That was the Poles’ ninth win in ten games over two years, taking them to 43 points, four clear of second-placed Czechia, the only team to beat them this season, by 32-30 at home in November.

There’s still one more match to be played this term, fifth-placed Lithuania hosting fourth-placed Croatia this coming Saturday, but it won’t affect the teams above them, the former being on six points and the latter ten, both well shy of the third-placed Swedes’ tally of 33.

Poland’s route to pole position over the last half of the second-tier trophy’s two-year timespan consisted, besides their win versus Sweden at the weekend and loss to Czechia last year, of victories by 73-3 in Croatia in February, 47-6 hosting Denmark in November and 41-8 away to Lithuania in October.

Claiming top spot earns the Poles promotion to the top-tier Rugby Europe Championship, pitting them against the likes of Georgia, Romania and Portugal.

Szwagrzak, formerly at Selkirk, is glad to have helped his national team earn a step up, saying: “I’m proud of the hard work we’ve put in over the last two years.

“Returning to the Rugby Europe Championship was one of my highest ambitions for myself and this group of players, so to make that a reality is amazing and I’m excited for the challenge ahead.”

The 35-year-old’s Arnold Clark Premiership team back in the Borders were among the first to applaud that achievement, posting: “Congratulations to Zen on winning the Rugby Europe Trophy with Poland.

“Well done to Zen and the Polish team from everyone at the club.”