Building on the changes made for the 2012 Hong Kong Sevens, in which two separate 12-team competitions were contested, the International Rugby Board (IRB) expanded the event to a total of 28 teams, again divided into two competitions.

The main draw consisted of 16 teams—the same number that were involved in all regular series events.

It featured 12 teams, specifically two qualifiers from each of IRB's six regional sevens competitions.

The four quarterfinal winners advanced, along with Hong Kong, to the World Series Core Team Qualifier at the 2013 London Sevens.

[6] By making it to the semifinals, Russia, Zimbabwe, Tonga, and Georgia have qualified for the Promotion tournament, along with Hong Kong and the bottom three core teams following the 2013 Scotland Sevens.