How Darren Maule became a receptionist for a day

Darren Maule is about to discover whether he has what it takes to survive behind a reception desk.

How, you might ask? It all started with Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

With the Springboks and All Blacks facing off in a four-Test series to determine who would come out on top, South Africans were ready for one of rugby’s biggest battles.

Unfortunately, the first Test didn’t quite go according to plan.

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The first test match

The All Blacks beat the Springboks 33-16, and by the Monday morning afterwards, the mood across South Africa was… well, let’s just say nobody was exactly doing cartwheels.

The atmosphere was dim, spirits were low, and it felt as though South Africans had collectively forgotten what happiness looked like.

Naturally, Darren Maule decided there was only one thing to do… put his dignity on the line.

To lift the mood and show just how confident he was in the Springboks, Darren made a rather bold promise.

If the Springboks lost their next match against the All Blacks, Darren would perform the Haka in rush-hour traffic in uMhlanga Rocks.

Yes. Rush-hour traffic, in Umhlanga, doing the Haka. Apparently confidence and common sense don’t always travel together.

However, there was another side to the bet.

If the Springboks won, Darren would have to take on a challenge of a different kind.

What exactly that challenge would be, however, was still to be determined.

The second test match

Fast-forward to the second Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks.

This time, things were very different.

The Boks took the lead and secured a 33-26 victory, sending South Africans into celebration mode and, perhaps most importantly for Darren, ensuring that his rush-hour Haka performance would not become a reality.

His dignity was safe. Well… temporarily, because there were, after all, two sides to the bet.

With the Springboks victorious, Darren now had to honour his side of the bargain.

That meant becoming a receptionist for a day somewhere in Durban.

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KZN had some suggestions…

Darren and the team turned to KZN to ask one very important question:

Where is the most difficult place to work as a receptionist?

The suggestions came flooding in.

Hundreds of entries poured in, with listeners nominating everything from funeral parlours and SARS offices to schools, banks, doctors’ offices and even East Coast Radio itself.

Clearly, KZN had been thinking about this question for a while.

After plenty of suggestions, debate and consideration, one destination was chosen, and let’s just say Darren may need to brush up on more than his telephone etiquette.

Welcome to the Mount Edgecombe Country Club

On Wednesday, 2 September 2026, Darren Maule will officially step behind the reception desk at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club.

For one day, the man usually responsible for waking up KZN will be responsible for welcoming guests, answering calls and experiencing the world from the other side of the front desk.

And in a twist that couldn’t have been planned better, the day also happens to be Administrative Professionals’ Day.

Coincidence? We think not.

From almost performing the Haka in rush-hour traffic to becoming a receptionist for a day, Darren’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry bet has certainly taken an unexpected turn.

The Springboks may have won the match.

But Darren? Well, Wednesday will decide whether he wins his first day as a receptionist.