Darren Smith has announced that he will step down as coach of the Irish women's senior hockey team after next month's World League round three in Valencia to return to New Zealand to be with his family.

He will be succeeded in the position by his current assistant Graham Shaw who earned 151 caps with Ireland before embarking on a successful club coaching career.

Smith was appointed to the role in November 2012, the highlight of his time with the side coming at the Champions Challenge in Glasgow in 2014 when Ireland beat the world number eight nation Korea on their way to winning a silver medal.

The tournament in Valencia doubles as an Olympic qualifier, the team having reached round three of the qualification phase after winning all six of their games in the round two tournament in March.