Former Springboks and ACT Brumbies coach Jake White has revealed the ugly truth about the state of Australian rugby union.

Writing for RugbyPass, White said Rugby Australia and the sport itself had “never been weaker”.

While NRL and rugby league is thriving including record numbers on television, rugby union has lost more ground on both the NRL and AFL.

“Australian rugby thought they could survive without it [academies] but Australian rugby has never been weaker.

White warned issues for the Wallabies could be “cataclysmic” by the time they host the World Cup.

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“It is the biggest hole Australian rugby has ever been in and things to change quickly.”

It comes as NRL continues to work closely on rugby league programs alongside private schools that have long been exclusive to rugby union.