Ella and Connie, performers from Highjinx, were invited to the All Blacks Captain run at Eden Park for a better rugby experience after their performance group endured a barrage of lewd comments from Lions supporters after the first test.
Teenage acrobats who were subject to sexual harassment from rugby fans today got to attend an All Blacks training and talk to players.
The girls, aged between 13 and 16, were entertaining fans in Kingsland before the first Lions v All Blacks test match when they were subjected tocontinued sexual comments.
Today the group, High Jinx, went to an All Blacks training session and got the chance to meet the team.
Co-artistic director Carlene Newell de Jesus said the girls had the opportunity to chat with players, including Sonny Bill Williams.
"It was great. The girls had a nice time," she added.
The circus performers were subject to a large number of sexual comments from rugby fans before the first All Blacks v Lions test at Eden Park. Photo / Brett Phibbs
The troupe attended the training session after an invitation from New Zealand Rugby.
"They contacted us so we have a better experience with rugby," 13-year-old Ella said.
"It's similar in a way to what we do in that it's using your body for something good and it's teamwork."
"They're pushing their bodies to the extremes and so are we, but just in a different way."
The group was due to perform again before the final Lions test tomorrow, but their performance was cancelled by the organisers, the Kingsland Business Association.
"I can understand any actions that protect young people but it's a shame because the girls miss out on performing but also the opportunity to see change," Newell de Jesus said.
Connie said she hoped talking about the experience would help people to realise sexual harassment was wrong.
"We hope that the people that were saying those things have maybe heard about this or seen some of these interviews and know that what they're doing is wrong."
Newell de Jesus initially raised the issue in an article written for the Spinoff, in which she described the comments troupe members were subjected to.
Rugby fans, most of whom Newell de Jesus said were Lions' supporters, asked the teens for lap dances and hand jobs.
"By the end of the 90-minute performance the girls have been subjected to a barrage of crude, sexualised and objectifying comments from male spectators," she wrote.
"Ninety percent of the harassment came from men wearing the recognisable red and white Lions supporter gear."
Ella said she was grateful people were talking about the issue.
"We're glad that the word's getting out and that it's spreading and people are talking about it because it is an issue all around the world and it's not just us who have experienced it."
