FORT WORTH, Texas – Whether guys were returning from lengthy injuries, finally meeting the league’s age requirement or straight up just getting started, the 2025 PBR Teams New Rider Draft welcomed several familiar faces, or names, into the camaraderie-driven fold Tuesday night inside ACL Live at Moody Theatre. 

With the PBR Camping World Team Series preparing to embark upon its fourth summer series of 5-on-5 drama in less than two months, the tour’s coaches, front office executives and even a few team-favorite riders enjoyed about a 48-hour break en route to travelling from Arlington, Texas, home of the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Championship to Austin, Texas, home of the defending PBR Teams Champion Austin Gamblers.

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Fresh off seeing their captain and now three-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme complete quite the heroic comeback inside Jerry World, there hasn’t been a better time to be a Gamblers supporter, especially knowing the team was joined by hundreds of fans during the talent-welcoming showcase. 

And while the reigning Champs didn’t make a selection until the eighth pick in the first round, they continued a few trends – both reflective of the circuit nabbing up known commodities while doubling down in the organization’s belief in PBR Brazil talent, if not Adriano Moraes, the team’s Director of Brazil Operations. 

Knowing the team, and each of the league’s nine other contingents, got an up close and personal look at some of South America’s top bull riding talent during this past winter’s PBR Teams Combine in Brazil means everybody got an equal opportunity to scout a section of international talent.

However, knowing Moraes keeps his eyes on said skill group nearly 365 days a year suggests he and a few of the other teams which emphasize constant prospect monitoring down south may have had a leg up once again this year.

For as deep as the team’s roots run within said continent, they went a bit chalky in selecting 2024 PBR Brazil Champion Rogerio Venancio with its first-round selection.

Which pretty much sums up his capabilities within PBR’s sanctioned activities. Throw in the idea that he’s currently ranked No. 8 in PBR Brazil despite competing in just four events suggests he’s ready to graduate to the big leagues.

Especially knowing he competed in 13 different Unleash The Beast events throughout the 2025 premier series slate. Producing an eighth-place finish during his UTB debut, which came just one month after making his outright stateside debut via the Challenger Series Championship, he looked like a promising addition to the circuit.

Ending his season ranked No. 44 overall, less than 50 UTB points outside the World Finals cutline, he managed four Top 18 results, which is more than enough to build on this summer with the likes of Moraes, Michael Gaffney and a few gold buckle-winning riders in Leme, Kaique Pacheco and friends to help him take the next step. 

RELATED: Meet the 6 riders from PBR Teams combine in Brazil selected in 2025 draft

Welcoming yet another man with some premier series reps under his belt, the Gamblers traded their second-round selection in the 2026 Draft to the Kansas City Outlaws in exchange for the No. 18 overall selection Tuesday night.

Using the pick to select Vinicius Pinheiro Correa, the squad had already entered the draft as 2025 favorites since acquiring Sage Steele Kimzey and Dener Barbosa to restock their already-loaded roster. But after adding another two depth pieces who have plenty of room to grow, it’s easy to see why we’ll eventually have Austin atop the preseason rankings once more. 

One of the very men who barely snuck into a World Finals qualification earlier this season, which marked the rookie’s first-ever appearance at the season-culminating showdown, Correa finished his first UTB season with a 13-for-41 (31.71%) slate. 

Similar to Venancio, the Brazilian began competing professionally just last year in 2024, meaning the pair of international cowboys will be open and inviting to any wisdom their team plans to pass along come training camp. Or sooner! 

Having participated in 16 of the circuit’s 23 regular season events and both the Eliminations and Ride For Redemption showcases, he should be warmed up and ready to go for year four of summer series competition. Earning a set of Top 5 results in New York City (fourth) and Manchester, New Hampshire (fifth) early in the season, he appeared to be a contender off the rip. 

Add in six additional Top 20 feats, brining his rookie season total to eight Top 20 efforts, and it’s clear he can provide some sort of additional depth and consistency to the Gamblers locker room. 

Returning to the top of the draft, another pair of international riders made headlines in the opening six picks. However, these brothers hailed from PBR Australia bloodlines, with plenty of proof they have what it takes to compete, if not excel, within PBR Teams.

Knowing fellow countrymen Brady Fielder and Callum Miller are set to team up with Macaulie Leather this summer means the Texas Rattlers are now the official, unofficial Down Under representatives. 

Since claiming the 2021 PBR Australia Rookie of the Year honors, the 24-year-old went on to be crowned the 2023 PBR Australia Champion en route to consistently finishing within the tour’s top ranks. 

Currently sitting in the No. 3 rank with a majority of the tour’s national contests left to play out, he’s also turned in No. 4 (2021) and No. 2 (2024) year-end placements as a regular contender. 

Having stepped into the 2023 PBR Canada National Finals and producing a runner-up effort confirms he’s more than capable of excelling in North American competition and will look to make an impact for Head Coach Cody Lambert and friends … well, soon, as he’s probably already bucking bulls with his new crew in Texas, already! 

His brother, Boston Leather, was selected just two picks later by the Missouri Thunder. Knowing the 19-year-old understudy recently claimed both of PBR Australia’s 2024 Rookie of the Year and outright Championship accolades, it’s clear the youngster is positioned to make some waves once his lead skip in Ross Coleman paints his point of what it truly means to be a cowboy. 

With four appearances in 2025 to his name within PBR Australia competition, he’s secured a Top 11 finish in each event he’s participated in, including three Top 10 efforts (fourth, fifth, ninth).

Turning in a third-place effort during the 2024 PBR Canada National Finals as an international invite, he, too, has proved he can compete with a different class and tier of bulls. How he will fair this summer against the top animal athlete talents in the world remains to be seen. But we’ll damn sure be tuned in to see how the Aussie brothers do in their respective rookie campaigns. 

Daniel Feitosa (selected fourth overall by Kansas City) and Alisson de Souza (selected twelfth overall by the Carolina Cowboys) represent the two riders chosen who redeclared for the Draft after having competed a few years back. 

With a gruesome injury forcing him to return home to Brazil for proper treatment and recovery time, the 27-year-old in Feitosa is set to participate in his first PBR-sanctioned event since 2023. He produced just a 2-for-9 record with Carolina during his injury-ridden campaign but looks to be back in quality condition after his time off.

On quite the opposite side of the spectrum, yet in nearly identical position having to return to Brazil due to his own injuries, thus keeping him out of competition, the brother to Alan de Souza is back in the fold since going 2-for-4 during the 2023 PBR Teams season with the Oklahoma Freedom. However, it was his milkshake-driven campaign from the inaugural 2022 campaign which makes him an intriguing talent in 2025, as he finished year one with the Arizona Ridge Riders ranked No. 10 in the MVP standings courtesy of a decent 12-for-25 window. 

Turning back the clocks quite a few ticks, the Florida Freedom opted into welcoming veteran Cannon Cravens to the squad. With just two appearances at a PBR-sanctioned event on his resume to date since competing in the 2022 PBR Teams preseason sessions, we aren’t sure exactly which version or what skillset of the 25-year-old PRCA contestant will arrive come July. But if Freedom Head Coach Paulo Crimber thinks he’s a good addition for 2024 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber and crew, all we can do is trust him, as first-round picks have turned into gold (buckles) in drafts past! 

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media