Townsend played for the University club in 1953 and represented Otago in that year. From 1954 until 1957 he played for the Southern club in Dunedin. He then shifted to the North Island and played for the Kamo club and represented North Auckland in 1958–1963. He represented the South Island in 1954–1956 and was a New Zealand trialist 1956–1959. He played in the New Zealand XV in 1954 and 1955 and also played for the rest of New Zealand in the same years.
Townsend was selected for the All Blacks in 1955. He played in Australia in the first and third tests and at home for New Zealand which were the only games he played for the All Blacks.