Argentina second rower Rimas Alvarez Kairelis has announced his retirement from international rugby as he believes he will be too old to play in the next World Cup.

The Perpignan 34-year-old made the decision after the Pumas beat France's Barbarians 32-18 in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

"I'll be 37 years old by the World Cup. I'd rather leave the place empty for the guys coming behind," said Alvarez, who won 44 caps.

"It's been very exciting. A number of things are going round my mind, many years, many memories.

"In tears, I told the guys I would support them from the outside. It'll be tough, but I've given it a lot of thought.

"The whole experience has been great. I was close to giving up twice when I was a kid. I played in Europe, with the Pumas, the World Cup achievement... I did my best for this shirt."

Alvarez joins Agustin Pichot, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Manuel Contepomi, Martin Durand, Gonzalo Longo and Omar Hasan, who have all retired since the Pumas' got a historic third-place finish in the 2007 World Cup in France.