NS News

Born to Play: Iona Christian Brings Scottish Thistles Ball Design to Life

4th June 2026

Scottish Thistles midcourter Iona Christian has brought together two important parts of her life — netball and design — through the creation of her own signature Gilbert netball.

Designed in partnership with Gilbert and Netball Scotland, the ball reflects Iona’s creativity, her connection to the national team, and the pride of representing Scotland on court.

Iona’s netball journey began at school and has grown into an international career representing Scotland. As an athlete, illustrator and mother, her story is one of creativity, resilience and new beginnings — themes that are reflected throughout the design.

The thistle sits at the heart of the concept.

“Of course it wouldn’t be a Thistles ball without a thistle on it,” said Iona. “A thistle is an extremely resilient, prickly flower, known for thriving in harsh conditions — when you come up against a Thistle on a netball court it’s never going to be an easy battle. I wanted to make sure I got the idea of endurance and bravery across in the design using the jagged thistle shapes.”

The colours were also carefully chosen to reflect both the flower itself and the identity of the Scottish Thistles.

@beccataylor.photography

“I used the pinks, purples and blues found on the thistle flower and influenced by the Scottish Thistles and Netball Scotland colours,” Iona explained.

The design also includes further nods to Scotland, with the Saltire and tartan woven into the overall look.

“I included the shape of the Saltire cross represented on the Scottish flag, along with a hint of tartan,” said Iona. “Historically, tartan patterns link back to the Scottish clans and are now a strong symbol of Scottish heritage.”

For Iona, the project was a rare opportunity to combine her creative background with her netball career.

“I absolutely loved designing this ball with Gilbert and Netball Scotland,” she said. “It’s not often I get to use my design background alongside netball, so this was a really special opportunity to come up with a ball that stands out and represents the Scottish Thistles.”

The finished design is bold, personal and full of meaning. It celebrates the strength of the thistle, the heritage of Scotland, and the individuality that each player brings to the game.

It also reflects Iona’s own journey. From representing Scotland on the international stage to returning to elite netball after becoming a mum, her story shows the many different chapters that can exist within a sporting career.

@beccataylor.photography

For young players across Scotland, Iona’s ball is a reminder that there is no single route through sport. Creativity, performance, resilience, family and pride can all sit side by side.

As the Scottish Thistles continue to inspire the next generation, Iona’s design offers a fitting celebration of what netball can represent: identity, ambition, expression and the freedom to play.

Richard Gray, CEO Commercial at Gilbert Netball, said:

“At Gilbert Netball, we are proud to support the game on a global scale, helping to drive participation, engagement and innovation at every level – from community courts and grassroots programmes through to the very highest stages of the sport, including the Netball World Cup and the Commonwealth Games – which takes place in the heart of Scotland later this year.

Working closely with our family of elite athletes is a hugely important part of that journey, enabling us to bring the game to life in a way that inspires players and fans around the world. We have loved working with Iona to bring her creativity to life through this design and create a supporter ball that celebrates both individuality and the spirit of Scottish Netball.”

The Scottish Thistles supporter ball is available now and can be bought through Netball Scotland’s new online store – click HERE to browse and buy.