On Wednesday night, Mr Begley was gutted when he went back to the changing room at the Waitaki Recreation Centre in Oamaru after training in the gym to find his new All Blacks jersey had been stolen.
The jersey had been bought with money he had earned from collecting and selling pine cones, put into a special account by his parents for spending money.
He had saved for the All Blacks jersey and hat because he wanted to wear it on his holiday in Australia, showing his true colours.
A Special Olympian, competing nationally in swimming and power-lifting, Mr Begley travels from Palmerston three times a week on Saturday mornings, Monday and Wednesday evenings to train in Oamaru at the gym.
He showed off his new jersey to the people he trains with at the gym, talking about his holiday in Australia.
"He's a trusting little guy. He went and changed and usually takes his gear back into the gym, but this time left it in the changing room," she said.
Some time between 5.40pm and 6.40pm, the jersey was taken.
Mrs Begley said her son was very upset at losing the jersey.
"I just about have to prise it off him to get it in the wash," he said.
Oamaru police community constable Bruce Dow hoped publicity about the loss would prompt whoever took the jersey to return it.
