Hernandez retires with immediate effect

Juan Martin Hernandez has announced his retirement from the game with immediate effect.

The 35-year-old picked up a knee injury playing for the Jaguares in round five of Super Rugby against Queensland Reds and hasn't been able to recover.

Speaking to French newspaper Midi Olympique Hernandez said "The cruciate ligaments aren't affected but it's very painful and the demands of Super Rugby don't allow me to play in this competition, so I've decided to stop playing rugby. There you go, it's finished."

"I didn't want to have any regrets, I think I wanted the end to come on a rugby field."

Nicknamed 'El Mago' -  The Magician - he played 74 times for Argentina, helping them get to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2007 and 2015.

Hernandez was extremely versatile, he was comfortable playing at outhalf, centre and fullback.

He spent much of his club career in France, playing for Stade Francais, Racing 92 and Toulon, with a short stint in South Africa for the Sharks in between.

He moved home in 2016 to play for the Jaguares.

Herandez hasn't ruled out a return to the game in a coaching capacity.

"We'll see! First of all I'll take six months off for me and my children. I'm going to be a normal father, taking the little ones to school in the morning and collecting them in the evening."