New Global Calendar

So they've reached agreement on this it seems.
www.worldrugby.org/news/232038
July test window presumably means the Pro12 will run from October to June from 2020 on.
Trips to France for playoff games would be very expensive that time of year so we'd better start qualifying directly ...

Don't see how this benefits the Northern Hemisphere teams except for the chance to play in better conditions in the later part of the Pro12 season.

Yeah not sure how the fixtures will be arranged. Presumably the Champions Cup won't start til December as there would be only 4-5 weekends before the international window. SH advantage in the RWC is probably increased as now they will play international rugby continuously for four months solid while the NH teams start playing in what is normally their pre-season.