From the end of the 2012/13 Series, promotion and relegation from core team status came into effect, with a pre-qualifying competition in Hong Kong and a final core team qualifier in London at the ninth and final round of the season.

The 2013 London Sevens, the final round of the Series, featured two distinct tournaments, and a total of 20 teams.

[2] The winners of the Semifinals, Spain and Scotland, earned core status for the 2013–14 IRB Sevens World Series.

The losing teams, Portugal and Russia, advanced to the Qualifier Third Place playoff.

Portugal won the Qualifier Third Place playoff and therefore became the final team to earn core status next season.