Kenny Rogers' "Gambler" Fires Up UK Rugby Team

Posted by amyclark on 08/18/2008
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10/17/2007 Stephen L. Betts Kenny Rogers classic Grammy-winning 1978 hit about a poker player on a fateful train ride has been a worldwide hit, and the inspiration for a series of made-for-TV movies starring Kenny himself. But the song could also become the unlikely anthem for England’s resurgent rugby team. If the team is victorious over South Africa in the World Cup match on Saturday (10/20), London newspaper The Independent reports Kenny Rogers is likely to be hailed as a national hero. It started about two weeks ago, when one of the players for England’s rugby union team, Matt Stevens, was strumming his guitar on the team bus on the way back from a match during which England had scored a triumph over Australia. The song he strummed was "The Gambler," and during the four weeks of the World Cup tournament it has reportedly been an important part of the British team’s miraculous turnaround from losing early on, to advancing to this weekend’s final. According to The Independent, the song has led to “the decision by England's players to abandon the aspiration to play beautiful, flowing rugby – which was bringing them defeat – and switch to ‘winning ugly’.” "The Gambler" is even on the verge of returning to the UK charts. Last week, it was at No. 70, and this weekend could reach the UK Top 40. Upon hearing the news of the team’s victory over Australia, Kenny sent a videotaped message to the team in which he said, "I don't know a whole lot about rugby, but it's a song that means a lot to me and I'm mighty proud that you guys found something in it to be your inspiration." After the team’s victory over France, he sent another congratulatory message, with the promise that he would give the team a private performance – but only if they beat South Africa in the final. "All great songs have multiple uses," Kenny says of "The Gambler." "Figuratively, it's such a great philosophy of life in general. It's great they're using it for their theme song. Those are some tough guys that play rugby."