The 2010 Currie Cup First Division was contested from 16 July through to 15 October 2010. The tournament (also known as the AbsaCurrie Cup First Division for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces.
Competition
Regular season and title playoffs
There were 6 participating teams in the 2010 Currie Cup First Division. These teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away.
Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that score 4 or more tries in a game, as well as to teams losing a match by 7 points or less. Teams were ranked by points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top 4 teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semifinals, the team that finished first had home advantage against the team that finished fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.
Promotion playoffs
The top 2 teams on the log also qualified for the promotion/relegation play-offs. The first placed team played off against the team placed eighth in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division and the second placed team played off against the team placed seventh in the Premier Division. The winners of these two ties (determined via two team tables, with all Currie Cup ranking regulations in effect) qualified for the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division, while the losing teams qualified for the 2011 Currie Cup First Division.