The 2010 competition was held at Murrayfield Stadium between 29 May and 30 May.
The tournament, as in all 16-team IRB Sevens events, consisted of four round-robin pools of four teams.
All sixteen teams progressed to the knockout stage.
The top two teams from each group progressed to quarter-finals in the main competition, with the winners of those quarter-finals competing in cup semi-finals and the losers competing in plate semi-finals.
The bottom two teams from each group progressed to quarter-finals in the consolation competition, with the winners of those quarter-finals competing in bowl semi-finals and the losers competing in shield semi-finals.