Australian rugby once had $40 million in the bank. Crowds over 100,000. TV audiences of 3 million. Today the Wallabies have sunk to their lowest world ranking ever. Off the field rugby is a "war zone" with a $20 million deficit last year alone.
The Breakdown is a gripping podcast investigation from The Australian, exploring just how far "the game they play in heaven" has fallen - and why. Jessica Halloran and Claire Harvey have interviewed everyone from ex-PMs and billionaires to Wallabies legends, boardroom insiders and the volunteers battling to keep the game alive. Raw and emotional, The Breakdown is the new binge-listen everyone will be talking about.
The Breakdown can be heard via The Australian's app right now. Search for and download The Australian's app to hear The Breakdown first.
Host: Jessica Halloran, Chief Sports Writer - The Australian
Producer: Claire Harvey, Editorial Director - The Australian
Production: Dylan Adams
Guests:
David Campese - Australia’s greatest ever try-scorer
Teki Tuipulotu - President of the Blacktown Scorpions
Khoder Nasser - Player agent of Quade Cooper and Sonny Bill Williams
Nick Farr-Jones - Former Wallabies captain
John Eales - Former Wallabies captain and long-time ARU board member
John Howard - Former PM and devoted Wallabies fan
John O’Neill - Former ARU CEO
John Coates - President of the Australian Olympic Committee and Chair of the Australian Olympic Foundation
Mat Rogers - Dual code star
Justin Harrison - Former Wallaby and RUPA boss
George Gregan - Former Wallabies captain
Phil Kearns - Former Wallabies captain
Alan Jones - Former Wallabies coach and broadcaster
Andrew Forrest - Billionaire and Western Force owner
Michael Cheika - Former Wallabies coach
Ann Sherry - Former ARU board member
Stephen Moore - Former Wallabies captain
Hamish McLennan - Current Rugby Australia chair
Colin Smith - sports broadcast rights expert
Gary Flowers - Former ARU CEO
Jeff Messitt - The Wavers Falcons rugby club secretary
To read about The Breakdown and dive deeper into the multimedia experience take out a subscription at theaustralian.com.au/thebreakdown or download The Australian app at your app store
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