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

Chart: Apple Podcasts – New Zealand – Sports

Ranking history