1. The rules

To the uninitiated, rugby union might look an incredibly complicated game, so here is a handy guide to the basics: 15 players on each side trying to score more points than the other team. Five points for a try, two for a conversion and three for a penalty or drop-kick.

Sing "Swing Low" and boo the Aussies.

2. The teams

Doing battle in the 2015 Rugby World Cup will be:

ARGENTINA • AUSTRALIA • CANADA • ENGLAND • FIJI • FRANCE • GEORGIA • IRELAND • ITALY • JAPAN • NAMIBIA • NEW ZEALAND • ROMANIA • SAMOA • SCOTLAND • SOUTH AFRICA • TONGA • URUGUAY • USA • WALES

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

The Fijian squad at Hampton Court Palace

3. Twickenham Fixtures

Friday, September 18: England Vs Fiji

Saturday, September 19: France Vs Italy

Saturday, September 26: England Vs Wales

Saturday, October 3: England Vs Australia

Saturday, October 10: Australia Vs Wales

Saturday, October 17: Quarter final

Sunday, October 18: Quarter final

Saturday, October 24: Semi final

Sunday, October 25: Semi final

Saturday, October 31: Final 

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

4. Fanzones

Fans without a ticket can enjoy every match on the huge screen at the fanzone in Richmond’s Old Deer Park, which will also be equipped with bars and shelter from the rain. In addition there will be rides, music, interactive activities and surprise appearances from celebrity presenters.Richmond and Twickenham Times:

5.Pubs

Twickenham’s Church Street pubs, The Fox, The Eel Pie and The Barmy Arms, promise to be absolutely raucous on match days, as do London Road venues The Cabbage Patch and The Shack, so for atmosphere and a wild evening look no further.

For a quieter pint, the Prince Blucher in The Green or The Prince Albert in Hampton Road may be safer bets.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Beers, beers, beers

6. Non-rugby activities

If you’ve never understood the appeal of watching enormous men chasing an egg around in the mud, then you may be pleased to hear Richmond is running a music and drama festival alongside the World Cup.

The jam-packed line-up includes a Richmond Shakespeare Society performance at St Mary’s Church, a Blondie tribute band at the Eel Pie Club and a dance ball in Twickenham Green.

Want to know more? Visit Richmond.gov.uk/musicanddrama.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Choir singing at Hampton Court Palace

7. Teams staying in the borough

World champions New Zealand and number two ranked South Africe will be using Teddington’s Lensbury Club as a base during the tournament. The leisure club could also host a further two teams as the world cup progresses. New Zealand winger Julian Savea said: "The set-up here is amazing. It really helps that you can walk 30 metres and you're at training. No 20-minute bus ride and stuff. I think the boys are really enjoying it."

The Italy squad was also greeted by a choir from The Queen’s Church of England Primary School as they arrived at Hampton Court Palace on Monday.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

The Webb Ellis Cup at the Lensbury

8. Have a flutter

New Zealand go in to the tournament as 5/4 favourites while a home advantage has shortened England’s odds to 9/2. South Africa are 6/1 to take home the Web Ellis cup, Australia are at 8/1, Ireland at 9/1 and France are at 12/1.

Or if you have a few pennies burning a hole in your pocket you can bang a quid on Namibia at 5,000/1 and pray for a miracle.

Source: Paddy Power

9. Catching the bug

Richmond boasts no less than 13 rugby union clubs and two rugby league clubs, so plenty of opportunities to get stuck into the amateur game or watch more professionals.

For more information visit richmond.gov.uk/sports_clubs#rugby.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

10. Harlequins FC

Captain Chris Robshaw is one of a quartet of Harlequins players who will be representing England.

Prop Joe Marler, scrum half Danny Care and Mike Brown will also be pulling on the famous white jerseys.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Danny Care in action for the Quins

11. Past winners and how they did it

1987 New Zealand

1991 Australia 

1995 South Africa 

1999 Australia  

2003 England

2007 South Africa 

2011 New Zealand 

2015 ???

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

12. Road closures

It's not all good news. The A316 will be closed between the London Road and Hospital Bridge Road roundabouts, to allow shuttle bus services to and from Kempton Park, as well as other locations, on the following days.

Friday, September 18 (8pm) - England vs Fiji (closes 4pm, reopens 11.45pm)

Saturday, September 19 (8pm) - France vs Italy (closes 5pm, reopens 11.45pm)

Saturday, September 26 (8pm) - England vs Wales (closes 5pm, reopens 11.45pm)

Saturday, October 3 (8pm) - England vs Australia (closes 5pm, reopens 11.45pm) Saturday, October 10 (4.45pm) - Australia vs Wales (closes 1.45pm, reopens 8.30pm)

Saturday, October 17 (4pm) - Quarter-Final (closes 1pm, reopens 7.45pm)

Sunday, October 18 (4pm) - Quarter-Final (closes 1pm, reopens 7.45pm)

Saturday, October 24 (4pm) - Semi-Final (closes 1pm, reopens 7.45pm)

Sunday, October 25 (4pm) - Semi-Final (closes 1pm, reopens 7.45pm)

Saturday, October 31 (4pm) - Final (closes 1pm, reopens 7.45pm) Other roads that will be closed at the same times include Rugby Road and Kneller Road.

A full list is available on the Richmond Council website.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

The A316 will be closed for some of the tournament

13. History

The history of rugby union follows from various football games played long before the 19th century, and rules were formulated and codified in the middle of that century.

Contrary to popular belief, the game was not born when a young footballer named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball at Rugby School and began running with it.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

England's most capped player Jason Leonard with the coveted trophy

14. Residents' perks

Hosting such an enormous tournament will obviously come with a few downsides for residents of Twickenham - past tales of fans urinating in gardens after matches are just the tip of the iceberg - but it does come with some unexpected benefits.

Some people will be able to rent out their parking spaces for up to £50 a day according to justpark.com.

15. Football

If you can’t stand rugby but still want to enjoy sport this autumn, there is still plenty of football to watch. Brentford play five home Championship fixtures at Griffin Park against Preston North End (Sept 19), Sheffield Wednesday (Sept 26), Birmingham City (Sept 29), Rotherham United (Oct 17), Queens Park Rangers (Oct 30).

Hampton and Richmond Borough take on Merstham (Sept 26), Hendon (Oct 10), Dulwich Hamlet (Oct 20) and Harrow Borough (Oct 24) at home in the Isthmian Premier League.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Hampton and Richmond FC in action