THE World Cup dream is over for Keighley’s two England internationals, as they bowed out at the semi-final stage to a rampant Australia side.

Matt Ross and Ben Stead both started for England at the Student Rugby League World Cup in the semi-final against the host nation at the Windsor Sports Complex in Sydney.

England were defeated 54-10 by the Green and Golds in their opening game, and managed to make the losing margin slightly smaller this time round, losing 46-18.

Stead, who is now returning to League One side the University of Gloucestershire All Golds, slotted three conversions in the match, meanwhile Ross – who was England vice-captain – will be moving into the civil engineering trade after graduating with a first-class degree from Nottingham Trent University.

Ahead of the semi-final, the squad were joined by former Bradford Bulls and current England internationals, twins Thomas and George Burgess, for a dinner and shirt presentation.

Australia beat a combined Pacific Islands team 30-12 in the final at the Pepper Stadium, home of the Penrith Panthers, on Sunday.