The Breakdown

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