If necessary of a tiebreaker, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who defeated the other in a head-to-head got placed higher.

In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points deferential margin got rights to be ranked above.

If they were tied on points difference, it was then decided by a highest scored try count or a coin toss.

The competition was a decider for the top and bottom seven placed unions that would respectively become a part of the Premiership and Championship divisions for the 2011 season.

The competition started on Thursday, 29 July, with Taranaki taking on Northland at Yarrow Stadium.