A heartstopping England field goal broke Australian rugby’s heart in 2003 - and precipitated a terminal slide. We explore how union headhunted league’s superstars, hear ex-Wallabies shed a tear for what’s been lost and tell the ripping yarn of a rugby-related burglary at The Lodge.

To listen to all six episodes of The Breakdown first, read the journalism and take the multimedia experience search for and download The Australian app at your app store. Or take out a subscription at theaustralian.com.au/thebreakdown

The Breakdown is a podcast investigation from The Australian, exploring just how far "the game they play in heaven" has fallen - and why.

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

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&rsquo;s greatest ever try-scorer
Teki Tuipulotu - President of the Blacktown Scorpions
Khoder Nasser - Player agent of Quade Cooper and Sonny Bill Williams&nbsp;
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&rsquo;Neill - Former ARU CEO
John Coates - President of the Australian Olympic Committee and Chair of the Australian Olympic Foundation
Mat Rogers - Dual code star&nbsp;
Justin Harrison - Former Wallaby and RUPA boss
George Gregan - Former Wallabies captain
Phil Kearns - Former Wallabies captain&nbsp;
Alan Jones - Former Wallabies coach and broadcaster
Andrew Forrest - Billionaire and Western Force owner&nbsp;
Michael Cheika - Former Wallabies coach
Ann Sherry - Former ARU board member
Stephen Moore - Former Wallabies captain&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
To read about The Breakdown and dive deeper into the multimedia experience take out a subscription at <a href="http://theaustralian.com.au/thebreakdown">theaustralian.com.au/thebreakdown</a> or download The Australian app at your app store

The Breakdown is a gripping podcast investigation from The Australian, exploring just how far "the game they play in heaven" has fallen - and why.

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.

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