WOLVES' back row forward Kevin Campion will remember the World Cup for the number of friends he has made.

There was an emotional end to the campaign for 29-year-old workhorse Campo and the Irish squad as they lost their first game from four outings to crash out of the tournament against England at the quarter-finals stage.

Campion told the GUARDIAN: "It's very disappointing that it is now all over.

"The guys in the Ireland team have been superb and I've made friends for life.

"It was pretty emotional in the dressing rooms after the game when we sang the national anthem again.

"You could see how upset everyone was by looking into the eyes of the coaches, players and support staff.

"But now I have next season with Warrington Wolves to consider and I am looking forward to it."

Campion returned to Australia this week but flies into Britain along with Alfie Langer and Andrew Gee at the end of December.

He played for 52 minutes at Headingley and featured in some key plays, again impressing ahead of Super League VI with Warrington Wolves.

Before going off injured with a knee injury in the 21st minute Campion helped Ireland to a 10-4 lead.

Campion showed all of his upper body strength to shrug off one defender and release the ball to loose forward Luke Ricketson and he sent St. Helens stand off Tommy Martyn flying through a gap for a six-pointer.

Warrington's former Brisbane Grand Final winner was making his way to the sidelines when his centre Michael Withers stormed half the length of the field to put Ireland 10-4 ahead.

By the time Campo returned in the 52nd minute England had turned the game around and were 14-10 to the good.

The sin-binning of full back Steve Prescott turned out to be costly for Ireland.

England piled on the pressure with their extra man advantage and Campion pulled off the tackle of the match to haul down England skipper Andrew Farrell inches from the try line when it had seemed certain he would score.

But the inevitable try came as Sean Long danced around two defenders to lay the platform for Wigan's Farrell to fire home good support player Tony Smith for the try of the match.

When back to 13 men Campion showed his attacking prowess with a 40-metre surge and a try was only stopped by a superb last ditch tackle from England's Bradford prop Stuart Fielden.

A try then would have put Ireland right back into the game but on the next tackle Martyn knocked on 120 metres from the England line and Ireland's hopes were dashed.

Winger Chev Walker eventually put England 26-10 ahead and Withers' second try for Ireland was merely consolation in the 26-16 score line.

Campo commented on his big break: "We had been under a bit of pressure and I managed to get us down to the other end of the field but typical of our night it wasn't to be."