22 year-old entrepreneur has tyre fitness device snapped up by Wigan Warriors

An entrepreneurial graduate from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has transformed the humble tyre into a high intensity interval training device that has been picked up by Super League giants Wigan Warriors.

Sam Marsh, owner of fitness equipment company Jigsaw Fitness Ltd, has created the interactive Jigsaw Flipper which uses a digital score system and a tyre fitted with a sensor to allow athletes to go head to head in a test that develops almost all areas of conditioning from core stability to leg power; tyre flipping.

Now Super League’s double champions Wigan Warriors have incorporated Sam’s invention into their Academy teams’ training sessions less than a year after the sport and exercise science graduate left university and set up his fitness company.

Sam, from Tarleton, Lancashire, commented: “I’m thrilled that Wigan has seen the potential the Jigsaw Flipper has to really harness the players’ competitive edge.

“Having involvement in the training of rugby athletes is a huge honour and I hope I can develop more products that enhance the players’ ability to perform when they step out onto the pitch.”

Ian Bentley, Wigan Warriors Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach, said: “We have been really impressed with the timing/tyre flip system and it has become a key part of our gym set up.

“The timing system is used to organise circuit sessions, allowing us to focus on key aspects such as technique rather than having to focus on simply timing the exercises.

“The competitive element added by the tyre flipper encourages fast powerful actions that will transfer onto the field on match day.”

Ambitious Sam, who himself has played rugby for both Preston Grasshoppers and Tarelton RUFC, hasn’t stopped there.

He has already taken two other training products to market; the Reactor which combines hand-eye co-ordination tasks with high intensity exercise and the HIIT Timer, a device that provides audio and visual clues for bespoke circuit sessions.

He is currently in negotiations with David Lloyd gym, Virgin Active and the Sheffield Institute of Sport.

The 22 year-old said: “I want to make exercise fun, competitive and engaging. Although the equipment can be used by professional athletes, they are all-inclusive so people who may not like traditional gym training can use to them to have fun and turn exercise into a game.”

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