Went to a handful of matches last year ....

in the aftermath of a very fun 2015 Rugby World Cup that England hosted. And am going to 'Quins-Sale Sharks tomorrow. But am still very much a novice, casual supporter trying to come up the learning curve.

Have been to home matches for Saracens, 'Quins, Wasps and the now-relegated London Irish.

It's a fun day out, but very different from going to an English football match: far more civilized crowd, cosier grounds typically with 10-15k crowds and better, somewhat healthier, food alternatives. There isn't any of the tribal atmosphere that English football features; accordingly, fans aren't segregated and beers are allowed into the stands.

A few times per season the Aviva Premiership will contest special event or rivalry matches at big Twickenham or Wembley and draw vastly larger crowds (season-opening doubleheader, holiday matches, Saracens-'Quins, Bath-Leicester, Aviva Premiership final, etc.).

The grounds are a bit of a hassle to get to, certainly in comparison to the major London-based football clubs, with Wasps (Coventry) and London Irish (Reading) playing well outside of London.

Aside from these clubs, Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints are relatively accessible from London: trains take about an hour with the respective grounds a short walk from the train station. An Aviva Premiership match could also be partial incentive to go to the historical town of Bath in western England.

The Rugby Ground Guide may be a helpful resource: www.rugbygroundguide.com.

I do find rugby to be a fairly technical sport and often struggle to identify why penalties have been awarded, particularly in crowded ruck play. Depending upon your level of knowledge, it may be worth going with a seasoned rugby fan or doing some study of the game's technicalities.

Which match are you considering attending?