Former members of New Zealand's rugby team have played elephant polo as part of the King's Cup tournament in Thailand.

Due to the size of elephants, each team has only three players, with the All Blacks taking on defending champions Audemars Piguet in the opening match.

Audemars Piguet are well known in Thailand because its founding member, Christopher Stafford, brought elephant polo to the country in 2001.

"It's very difficult, not nearly as easy as I thought it's going to be. It's very hard and it's hot, said All Blacks team member Charles Riechelmann.

Audemars Piguet won the match with a score of 11 to seven, with pineapples and other kinds of fruit given to the animals as a reward.