Australia is sending one of its strongest rosters in history across the ditch for the upcoming PBR Tasman Cup on December 19 and 20, with 10 of the country’s toughest riders ready to stare down New Zealand’s best in a trans-Tasman clash of grit, power and serious swagger.
Leading the charge and Australian Captain in this Bledisloe Cup of bull riding is 2025 Australian Champion Kurt Shephard, fresh off his stellar national campaign, where he dominated the standings and secured the coveted gold buckle. Joining him is a stacked roster of rising stars, seasoned champions and international campaigners, all united under the green and gold.
TEAM AUSTRALIA for the PBR Tasman Cup:
- Kurt Shephard (captain) – Mareeba, QLD
- Tyson Smith – Walcha, NSW
- Jack Rowlandson – Oberon, NSW
- Clint Glass – Willow Tree, NSW
- Zane Hall – Athol, QLD
- Macaulie Leather – Calliope, QLD
- Thomas Triplett – Bungundarra, QLD
- Kelsey Pavlou – Toora, VIC
- Charlie Bailey – Oberon, NSW
From the explosive power of Macaulie Leather, who now rides with Missouri Thunder in the USA, and teenage phenom Thomas Triplett, returning home after a season with the Oklahoma Wildcatters, to the consistency and cool-headed toughness of Clint Glass and Tyson Smith, Team Australia is set.
Coach of Team Australia is Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, NSW), seven‑time PBR World Finals qualifier and coach of the NSW Blues for the PBR Australia Origin Series, which this year made history in breaking the Maroon dominance.
Headlining the New Zealand team as Captain is Fraser Babbington who boasts a mantlepiece of buckles and was a 2016 and 2017 PBR World Finals Qualifier, as well as taking the 2015 PBR Australian gold buckle.
Joining him is Rylee Ward, the NZRCA Open Bull Riding Champion, joined by his brother, Klay. The team also includes third generation bull rider Johnson Davis and Mount Isa’s Donovan Rutherford (riding for Team NZ under his father’s origins)
PBR New Zealand Tasman Cup Team:
• Fraser Babbington – Gisborne, NZ
• Rylee Ward – Gisborne, NZ
• JC Davis – Rotorua, NZ
• Donovan Rutherfurd – Riding under his father’s NZ heritage
• Klay Ward – Gisborne, NZ
• Koby Parsons – Ōpōtiki, Bay of Plenty, NZ
• Darryl McPherson – Waikato, NZ
• Zack Taylor – Waikato, NZ
• Bryan Batt – Hawke’s Bay, NZ
• Willie Tisdall – Te Kuiti, NZ
Coach of Team New Zealand is Jonny Ward, veteran bull riding champion, head bucking‑bull contractor at WFL Bucking Bulls, and proud father to bull riders Rylee and Klay.
The event will see riders from both nations go head-to-head in a high-adrenaline battle for the coveted PBR Tasman Cup, a title that celebrates the rivalry, respect and deep stock-riding heritage shared across the Tasman.
The first Tasman Cup was won by Australia back in July, so New Zealand is out to even the ledger.
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