Amid jubilant scenes in England’s dressing room after the World cup semi-final win over France on Saturday scrum half Andy Gomarsall led his fellow players in a rendition of Kenny Rogers’ ‘The Gambler’.

The song has become the signature song of the England rugby team in the 2007 World Cup being sung on the team coach before games.

In November 1977 Rogers released what was to become his most famous single and a song which has earned something of cult status in the gambling world.

‘The Gambler’ written by Don Schlitz became a number one for Rogers at a time when he was King of the country music charts State side.

The song itself tells the story of a late-night meeting on a train between Rogers (as narrator) and an unnamed gambler. The gambler tells Rogers that he can knows he is down on his luck by the look in his eyes and offers him advice in exchange for the last swallow of whiskey Rogers has. After the gambler takes the drink (and a cigarette), he gives the following advice:

“You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

Know when to walk away and know when to run. You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.”

The song is often thought to act as a metaphor for life (the secret of survival) in that its important to know when to stand your ground (when to hold ‘em) and when to walk away from trouble (when to fold ‘em).

Despite hitting the headlines with more than 70 hit singles the song ‘the gambler’ is still regarded as Roger’s most famous and the singer’s personal favourite.

Indeed the album of the same name (the gambler) featured in the “200 most influential albums ever” and Kenny Rogers himself was voted as the “Favourite singer of all time” in an 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People.

Now with England in their second consecutive World Cup Final you can expect to hear ‘The Gambler’ sung up and down the country and not just by Country Music fans either!