Piri Weepu leads the All Blacks haka in a 2013 test against Argentina.

Former All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu has played his final game of senior rugby.

The 2011 World Cup hero, who spent the season playing for Wairarapa Bush in the Heartland Championship, announced his retirement on Instagram following Saturday's 36-26 defeat to West Coast in Masterton.

"It's been a honour and a privilege to have played footy over the years!" Weepu wrote alongside an image of his boots hanging up in the changing room.

1 of 6 DAVID ROGERS/ GETTY IMAGES All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu clears the ball from a ruck in a 2012 test against Scotland. 2 of 6 SIMON WATTS/ GETTY IMAGES Charity man Piri Weepu. 3 of 6 SANDRA MU/ GETTY IMAGES All Blacks Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu and Sam Cane at East Tamaki Rugby Club in 2012. 4 of 6 WARWICK SMITH/ STUFF Piri Weepu was a fan favourite. 5 of 6 HANNAH PETERS/ GETTY IMAGES Piri Weepu takes a break at Blues training. 6 of 6 GETTY IMAGES Piri Weepu leads the All Blacks haka ahead of a 2013 test against France.

Weepu played the last of his 71 tests for the All Blacks in 2013 to continue his career in Europe.

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After stints with London Welsh and Wasps in England, and two seasons in France with Oyonnax and Narbonne, he returned home this year before linking up with Wairarapa.

But it was always his plan to call it a day at the en of the season.

"It's purely just to play footy and feel that love again, and then hopefully hang the old boots up," Weepu said earlier this year.

STUFF Piri Weepu in action for Waiarapa Bush during this year's Heartland Championship.

The 34-year-old's time with the Bush did not go to plan as they won just one game all season, while Weepu's debut was cut short by an undisclosed medical event.

But he can look back on an impressive career that included 124 Super Rugby appearances (84 for the Hurricanes, 40 for the Blues) and 54 games for Wellington, best remembered for his leading role in the All Blacks' World Cup triumph on home soil six years ago.