JUST a month ago West Linton’s Lauren Tait was celebrating her award as Netball Scotland’s U21 national netball player of the year.

This month she has even more reason to celebrate, having been named in the 12-strong Scottish Sirens - Scotland’s Vitality Netball Superleague team for 2017.

Former Peebles Netball player, Lauren is currently studying at Stirling University and has consistently impressed at international level.

Although only 20 years old she has already gained her full Scottish Thistles cap and recently returned with a silver medal from the Netball World Youth Cup qualifiers in Cardiff.

Her signing for the Scottish Sirens marks a new era for her in terms of professional sport.

The 12-strong squad is led by the Scottish Thistles New Zealand-born head coach Gail Parata.

Only eight Scottish nationals are included in the selection with the squad described as a global team of athletes.

The four imports include two world-famous athletes from the Jamaican national side, shooting legend, 6’4” Carla Borrego, and 112 capped defender Althea Byfield.

Silver Fern and Commonwealth Games medallist, Ellen Halpenny is being brought in from the southern hemisphere; whilst Northern Ireland star across mid-court, Caroline O’Hanlon completes the line-up.

The Vitality Netball Superleague, which is broadcast on Sky TV, involves 10 teams across the UK with first matches starting in February, 2017.