Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore will retire from Test rugby at the end of 2017.

Moore broke the news to Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on Sunday and his teammates on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old said he began to realise in recent months that he wouldn’t be part of the 2019 World Cup squad.

'I think you definitely go through that period where you do fight it. You think, “I'll be fine, I'll be able to do it”,' he said.

'I had some great encouragement from my teammates and my coaches, but I just got that feeling, probably in the last month or so, that it was the right time.

'I think the commitment required to be the best and to perform at the highest level is huge. I just didn't think I could do that ongoing for another two years leading up to that World Cup.'

WATCH: Moore on Test retirement

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