pgsql-bugs(at)postgresql(dot)org writes:
>> From PostgreSQL Documentation:
> Within the condition and action, the special table names new and old may be used to refer to values in the referenced table (the object). new is valid in ON INSERT and ON UPDATE rules to refer to the new row being inserted or updated. old is valid in ON SELECT, ON UPDATE, and ON DELETE rules to refer to the existing row being selected, updated, or deleted.
This is a documentation error. Thanks for catching it.
regards, tom lane