It’s official: The Laos Elephants will tour to Hanoi and play against the Vietnam Swans and Thailand Tigers in a 3-way tournament on Saturday, 17 November in Hanoi.

The Swans sent our official photographer, Iva Biggin, to Laos to capture the reaction of the Elephants. As you can see from the photograph, the Elephants were very excited to hear that they would be playing in their first international tournament.

“And why wouldn’t you be excited?” asks Bill Lawry. “It’ll be the first international to be played in Hanoi since March of last year, the first time the ‘Vietnam Swans’ have ever played in Hanoi, the first time the Elephants have ever fielded a team and the first time the Tigers have been seen in Vietnam since November 2005. I’m as excited as an Elephant right now”.

Thailand Tigers Coach, Mr Fish has said that the Tigers will put up the Burke-Roos Cup for the tournament. The Swans and Tigers have played for the Cup twice and both times it has fallen into the hands of the Tigers. The Swans will be keen to redress that situation in November.

Fish is a supporter of a tournament without a Grand Final… “Given how well the Swans host (a tournament) and how well the Tigers take advantage of Hanoi as good hosts, let’s keep it to two games each and then top of ladder wins tournament”.

Fish could be a lawyer for Grand Final Platinum Sponsor, Allens Arthur Robinson. He presents a very convincing and succinct case.